Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

It’s a cold, clear, beautiful morning out there.

Last evening I borrowed a game camera from a friend to set up by our chicken house to see if we could capture an image of the nasty critter killing the chickens. He’s hit on a bunch of them now. That camera took two shots—but nothing to give definition of the critter. He was definitely there last night, though. He finally killed the big white rooster. My truck is running outside this window. I’m going in to town to have this friend help me fine-tune the camera and also borrow his big live trap. I’m mad now. I won’t quit now till we nail that killer.

We spent the later evening with other friends—solid believers. One of them just lost his wife a few days ago. He’s hurting to be sure, but his resilience is evidence of his faith.

Have a blessed first day of this New Year.

Love, Dad/Ray.

There is no effort here to sugar-coat the stupid sin and atrocity committed by David. Deplorable SIN is listed right here in black and white for everyone to see in the very genealogy of Jesus—at least the genealogy of Joseph, the man selected by Sovereign God to function as the human father of the Son of God. The obvious fact is that SIN runs deep through the blood line of humanity. What could possibly address that problem short of a saving solution authored by God Himself? History proves that man can’t. Praise Him!—that’s exactly where this account is leading. “…and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (v. 16).

I guess I can handle the fact of SIN in the genealogy leading to Jesus. That simply underscores the reality and universality of the NATURAL SIN NATURE. But why in the world does God complicate the matter by authoring the appearance of SIN? After all, how many people in that setting could accept a young woman’s defense like this?—“Yes, I’m pregnant—but I’m a virgin.” “Oh, sure!” would likely be the common response. Is the answer to that question present in the words of 2 Corinthians 5:21? “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Be reminded—the name “Jesus” means “Savior.” And the title “Christ” means “Anointed One.” In view of that, the words of “the angel of the Lord” are all the more meaningful—“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS” (v. 21). He saves so effectively, past, present, and future, so as to reverse the effects of David’s ugly crime in response to his heart-level repentance. Therein is the key to the solution—confession, repentance, and the receipt of forgiveness.

I can’t imagine a better daily routine for this New Year than to follow the example of my good friend, the late Jim Hance, who would daily exclaim, “Halleluiah! I’m saved!”