Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear people.

The little boys were delivered at 6:30am. While they were engaged on the other side of the house, and Dandy with them, I was able to sneak off and do a little jog alone. I picked up a bunch of cans, then picked a bunch of blackberries. Tis the season for the berries. I guess the can season is all year long.

My list is huge. And I’m not yet sure where to attack first. OK—first is to place an order for 1000 business cards for a customer. Second, I need to finish setting up the mill in the mill shed and zip up one cedar log for a customer. Oh yes—I need to do up one of my cedar logs for that same customer—needing three 4”x14”x10’ pieces—for his big picnic table top project. I’d like to take mill blades to Wood Mizer for resharpening and swing into SW Portland to check out some firewood logs. In the mix, we’re expecting friends for lunch. And, of course, I’d like to fit in my little old-man nap.

What’s on your list?

Love, Dad/Ray.

This topic of ELECTION can present some major difficulties, and some seem to struggle over it to the point of stumbling—even falling. However we choose to slice it, I cannot accept that God arbitrarily selects (predestines) some to be saved and some to be lost—some for eternal life and some for destruction—as though He were flipping a coin over every individual—“Heads, you’re in. Tails, you’re out.”

As I sort through the data and information we have before us, the matter of being called is huge. But it doesn’t need to be complicated. The call is general and universal (Romans 1:18-20). We can say that ALL ARE CALLED. The Kingdom of God is a standing invitation. But being called is certainly not equated with a required or desired response to that call. If I’m called to supper, but don’t respond, I don’t eat. Duh. And if I call my dog when he is all preoccupied with his dog stuff of sniffing out a rat under a pile of lumber, he simply will not come. Duh. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14, KJV). Why? Because only a few are willing to choose His choice—with a will to make their own pursuits subservient to His.

Over and over the Bible confirms that God wants to have mercy toward those who respond to His love call, those who will repent and believe in His Son, Jesus, as their personal Savior and Lord. And He wants to confirm the value of this amazing LOVE GIFT by allowing quite the opposite in behalf of those who respond opposite—an automatic hardening effect in those who persistently refuse to repent, those who choose their SINFUL NATURE over His provision and opportunity to “participate in the DIVINE NATURE” (2 Peter 1:4).

May I also recommend that you review Romans 2:4-11. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”