Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear people.

It’s kind of wet out there…but only lightly sprinkling right now…not enough to prevent outside work. Nor was it enough to prevent my earlier jog with the dog. I need to do some inside work before turning attention to the outside stuff.

I hope you will have a good day dealing with your stuff…whether inside or outside.

Love, Dad/Ray.

As a kid, I recall occasionally watching a television game show—it was called “TO TELL THE TRUTH.” (I just confirmed that you can go online to view some old episodes of that old show.) It featured various people with unique occupations or life experiences. The host would make an introduction something like this: “Our present guest is Ray Sparre. He, together with his wife, Becki, have raised their four children while living and working as missionaries over a period of 28 years in four Pacific Island countries—Marshall Islands, Pohnpei, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.” This guest would be sitting with two other people who were both claiming to be Ray Sparre, with the same background story. Each would stand and introduce himself, “My name is Ray Sparre.” There was a panel of four main players whose challenge was to ask questions of the three within the time allotted as a means for choosing which Ray Sparre they judged to be the true Ray Sparre. At the end of the question time the panel was required to announce their selection, telling why they chose #1, #2, or #3. Then the host would say, “Will the true Ray Sparre please stand.” It was most common for the panel to select an imposter rather than the true one.

There is a good deal of guessing going on in determining who are the true and genuine people of God and who are con-artists or counterfeits. Sometimes it is quite apparent, and other times it is quite difficult. Paul made reference to this matter back in 1Timothy 5:24-25: “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” (That is, they cannot be hidden before the omnipresence and omniscience of God. Hebrews 4:13.) “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness’” (2 Timothy 2:19).

There have been a few times in my sojourn where a unique blend of circumstances put me into a circle where I was misunderstood, misrepresented, and judged as a phony. In those instances I seemed to have no other foundation than this one—that the Lord knew who I was—and I knew who I was—even though virtually everyone in that circle judged me as a deceiver. It really is a good foundation to have. In fact, I would highly recommend it to you—that you accept “God’s solid foundation” as YOUR FOUNDATION.

To be sure, there is coming a day when the Sovereign Host will say, “Will the true followers of my Son please stand—and enter into the joy of your Lord.” And it’s no game show.