Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greeting, dear ones.
I guess it’s about the end of another day—another full one. We attended a memorial for a friend in Sandy, a church dedication in Molalla, and picked some apples at an orchard in Marquam. Darkness overtook me in the orchard. I had a head light (a light mounted on my head) to help me out. I shared the space with some pigs that apparently disregarded the fencing of their pen. They were feeding on the fallen apples. I’m now munching on some popcorn while talking to you.
Have a good sleep.
Love, Dad/Ray.
This simple little phrase just about says it all. “BE PREPARED.” Think about it. As I try to give it my best attention, I have to make this deduction: All my background, all my training, all my past experience, all my church activities, etc., don’t really amount to a “hill of beans” IF it does not result in my being PREPARED to serve God in the present—and PREPARED to meet Him at the inevitable termination of my physical life in the future. And whereas God has provided so graciously and thoroughly for my being PREPARED, I am without any excuse at being anything less. Of course, this is the same for you. Can you say, “Amen?”
This passage between 2 Timothy 3:10 and 4:10 is labeled as “Paul’s Charge to Timothy” in my Bible. It is such a tremendous section of Scripture containing instruction, encouragement, and challenge toward being PREPARED that I have decided to present it here using The Message translation again. Why not pretend that this is Paul’s charge to ________________ (fill in your own name)?
“You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.
“But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
“I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.
“You’re going to find there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.
“You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.”