Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones, on another cool winter-like morning.

I’m still a little steamy…having just returned from our walk/jog. At least it wasn’t raining this time. We had to deal with a bit of frustration again with this dog who nearly ran right in front of a truck. Then he lost his ball while dipping in his “cold tub” at the bottom of the hill. I can’t imagine what could have happened to it.

Lots to pursue in order to make this day work out right. Hope yours works out right too.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Jesus had just announced to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples could hardly believe their ears. The last time they were there the Jews had tried to stone Jesus. They judged His words to be an announcement akin to suicide. Jesus’ cryptic response to their baffled surprise is worth our attention. “Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light’” (John 11:9-10).

Please take courage by the fact that IF your life is dedicated to God and you remain on the course of serving Him, your entire life is marked by divine purpose—you have been assigned a certain amount of work to do within the framework of His plan—along with a certain period of time in which to do it. In the same way that you have no power to lengthen or shorten a day in this world, neither can you alter the window size and scope of God’s will which is set by Him. This is not to say that it is a rigid script that is not affected by your choices. I see it as a kind of partnership—“Laborers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9). But there is great encouragement in knowing that, within these parameters, you become indestructible. No man, no devil, and no circumstance can thwart the unfolding of His will in your life as you “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). So wandering away from THE SHEPHERD or stepping outside THE LIGHT (they are the same) automatically puts one in the dark where stumbling is the norm—where one is subjected to great peril. Be reminded of what Jesus just said in John 8:12: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Think about it. Make determinations accordingly.

So the moral of the story is really quite straight forward and simple: STAY CLOSE TO THE SHEPHERD-LIGHT. He is your only eternal security.

Here’s a good additive for your memory tank—from Proverbs 21:30: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.”