Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

It’s been awhile. I guess Wednesday was my last transmission. Lots of busy. And a very full weekend surrounding another edition of our casual college reunion up in northern Washington (Sedro Wooley). That Seattle area traffic is just as stinky as ever—and getting worse. How could it not with such an expansion of population and the injection of so many new vehicles? My old 1992 Dodge pickup carrying our old Big Foot camper was one of the older outfits in the chaotic mix. But we had another great weekend. Sunday, on our way home, we were able to visit an old friend (and his wife) from gradeschool through high school. Since we’re both the same age, I guess he’s really not such an old friend—he’s only 70. Then we had a brief visit with my sister and brother-in-law in Federal way. We finally pulled into our own driveway at midnight.

Today, with the two little boys along, we did a run to Salem to a meeting point with Andy who had completed a digital print job that I need to complete a sign job. As a unique twist to the trip, I lost my cell phone in the parking lot of Salem Costco. We were well on our way home when I realized it was missing. Becki called the store. Sure enough it was turned in already. So back we went.

I need to get back to my sawmill in Dickey Prairie and finish up my work there. There’s mounting pressure to do more with it back here at home.

There you have a little current deposit of trivia. Be good. Have fun. Be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

It’s a simple statement—only 6 words. It makes very little sense to the typical unbeliever, but for those of us who have been touched by the Spirit of God, it is a profound description of our orientation and perspective. It’s a matter of believing God’s Word over and above our sensory perceptions. It’s a matter of living according to what we know and believe deep in our mind and spirit rather than what we feel.

In the previous chapter, Paul gave us a faith standard for this perspective: “So we fix our eyes (eyes of faith) not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). Please continue looking at what you can’t see (Colossians 3:1-4).

Let’s review some of the qualities of faith (things to believe) as contained in this passage. I’ll present them here in the form of personal motivations:

1. I haven’t seen it or been there yet, but I believe I am headed toward a spiritual, but very real, dimension of immortality with the Lord (vv. 1-10).
2. I understand that this wonderful status is very conditional, therefore, by faith, I make it my “goal to please him” (v. 9) and “fear the Lord” (v. 11).
3. I believe I will participate in an unavoidable appointment for examination before “the judgment seat of Christ” (v. 10).
4. A huge amount of motivation is afforded me in the demonstration of the “love of Christ” (v. 14).
5. I have been given the “ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18) and my job description is like that of an “ambassador for Christ” (v. 20) in the foreign territory of a fallen world.
   “God’s part we cannot do—our part God will not do.”