Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

It’s already afternoon. But I’ve already engaged in some business too—besides just working up this composition.

Dandy enjoyed his first walk with us this morning since being released from the slammer. But the goof ball lost his goofy ball! Oh well. We still have an abundance of balls since buying that batch of 120 used tennis balls a couple months ago.

I’ve already dealt with some lumber—loading a customer’s trailer up with his cedar order. He even paid me. And I’ve already dealt with a sign job.

May the rest of your day go well.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Is there any concept within a sound Biblical worldview any more vital and all-encompassing than this one?—YOU ARE SOMEONE ELSE’S PROPERTY. You didn’t design you, you didn’t create you, you didn’t craft you, and you don’t sustain you. If a person can get their head wrapped around these basic facts, is it not reasonable to allow these facts to point to another overarching fact?—YOU ARE NOT SELF-MADE AND INDEPENDENT—YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. So what’s up with all this strenuous effort to avoid the obvious—which is, YOU WERE MADE BY GOD TO HONOR AND WORSHIP HIM BY YOUR OWN CHOICE—YOU ARE INTENDED TO FUNCTION AS A DWELLING PLACE WHERE CHRIST (GOD) REIGNS AS BOTH SAVIOR AND LORD—AND YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO HIM FOR THE WAY YOU IMPLEMENT THIS OBVIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. If this is not a valid perspective, then I need help! Who can counsel me out of my delusion? Who can correct my warped brains? What kind of recovery therapy can be applied? What model would represent the goal of my restoration? And what are the great benefits of that orientation over the benefits I now have? Until someone or something can step forward with compelling evidence to demonstrate a superior view, I intend to hang on to this Biblical one—and hang on tight!

“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” What do you make of that? I’ll attempt another paraphrase that incorporates the meanings I’m drawing with this reading: “When a person becomes the recipient of human existence, along with a healthy working brain, they participate in a sacred trust—accepting the responsibility to manage all their affairs in a way that honors the Owner. When one makes intentional and habitual choices that dishonor the Owner, completely ignoring His terms and conditions, conducting their affairs in ways that win promised destruction, they are indeed destroyed—they perish with no hope of recovery—according to His terms and conditions. (Perish the thought!) So, in contrast to all other forms of life, human existence is sacred, because it represents the most prized dwelling place of the Most High God—at the center point of every human individual. Think of it! We’re talking about you personally! YOU are intended to be the valued temple of God!”