Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello, special people.
It’s hard to grasp that it’s Friday again already. We’ve been several days without a walk/jog. Becki can’t do it this morning. It’s too late. Both she and Thano will be looking after the BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF OREGON booth at the big Car Show in Portland. I may attempt a little jog on my own. And it may be a challenge with two dogs.
Speaking of dogs, I gave a good wash to Hondo last night. I tied him up and used a hose, scrub brush, and began with dish detergent. For reasons only understood to canine psychology, he found something dead, foul, and absolutely putrid to roll in. He obviously thinks it smells wonderful—like perfume. But to us he stunk unbearably. He couldn’t figure out why in the world we did not want to even get close to him like normal—and kept shooing him off.
Time to move. Have a great today. Blessings.
Love, Dad/Ray.
While perhaps the most basic of Biblical comparisons is the one we addressed yesterday, the WISE and the FOOLISH, there are many other comparative descriptions in the teachings of Jesus to help us understand the nature and boundaries of the two kingdoms—that is, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. It could be good to list out these comparisons graphically—maybe draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper—with BAD on the left and GOOD on the right. Here are some comparisons to list (some in my own words): wide—narrow, many—few, bad fruit (or no fruit)—good fruit, destruction—life, hellish horror—heavenly happiness, disobedient—obedient, unfaithful—faithful. Then in today’s reading we can note a few more: cursed—blessed, left—right, eternal punishment—eternal life, goats—sheep, unrighteous—righteous, and uncaring—caring.
There is one FACT that is clearly established in this parable that I’m willing to risk over-emphasizing—a FACT consistent with an overview of Biblical revelation: THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINGDOMS IN THE UNIVERSE WITH THEIR TWO CORRESPONDING DESTINIES. This story is one more example of Jesus giving a lot of attention to helping us get our hearts and minds wrapped around this fundamental FACT.
In view of the importance of this concept, it could be a very good exercise for us to not only begin a list like the one we described above, but to maintain that list and keep adding to it the various descriptions of the two kingdoms gleaned from our ongoing Bible reading. In so doing, we could provide ourselves with ongoing insight concerning the lines of demarcation separating them. One of the practical benefits of such critical observation is that it assists us in our clarity of vision and choice-making as to which kingdom is dominant in any given situation, and which kingdom we want to cling to versus which we want to avoid. There are simply too many who prove by their fruit to be blurred in their perspectives and loyalties. DON’T let that happen to you! This is important stuff.