Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, nice people.

I can hardly believe how so much of the morning has evaporated already. Becki and I spent some good time talking about the reading. I was inspired with an idea flowing out of the description of Elizabeth’s barrenness. A similar account is recorded in 1 Samuel 1 featuring barren Hannah. Since giving birth to a baby was something they deeply desired, it occurred to me that I am as barren as these special women were insofar as producing that which I most deeply desire in and of myself—offspring like “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Hannah recognized with crystal clarity that what she so deeply longed for could not be realized entirely through any special circumstance or human relationship alone. So should I. Does that make sense?

May the Lord bless and inspire you sufficient for today.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This phrase catches my attention again. It is a simple and beautiful description of Zechariah and Elizabeth who became the parents of this special man we know as John the Baptist. Zechariah and Elizabeth were reasonably normal people. No doubt they had their share of bumps and bruises down through their lives. Elizabeth mentions her “disgrace” of being barren—something Zechariah no doubt felt as well. But what sets them apart and makes them candidates for special service is that, “Both of them were upright in the sight of God.” In other words, they both chose to nurture a HEART AFTER GOD.

We have just read through the epistles of Peter and James. Both of them talk about the fleeting nature of life. Peter presents the illustration that a man’s life is like grass that doesn’t last long. All his great achievements are like a flower that blossoms and then withers into nothingness (1 Peter 1:24-25). He also encourages us to evaluate things important against the promise of impending destruction (2 Pet 3:11-12). James says essentially the same thing (James 1:10-11) and then goes on to get a little stronger by saying that our lives are like a mist that appears for a brief time and then disappears (James 4:14).

In addition to these scriptural perspectives, I suppose my age and physical condition have some influence on my thoughts concerning these things. I think it is appropriate for me to make some determinations about what in life is most important to me. I have concluded that questing for fame, wealth, or great achievements are not on my list of priorities. Of course, there is that dirty little possibility that if I had the natural ability to gain those things, I could have a little more struggle removing them from that list. So perhaps I am blessed by being weak and less than outstanding in my achievements. That’s what Paul confessed. But I think this description of Zechariah and Elizabeth is a worthy statement that expresses my basic desire in life—to simply and fundamentally be “upright in the sight of God.” To me, that says it all. That makes it important. After all, it makes sense that if I do not have a fundamental HEART AFTER GOD, I am fundamentally flawed. Hey, that rhymes!