Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear people.

Full day. After a jog on our place, we headed out to an appointment I had with our naturopathic doctor. We talked more about my arrhythmia issues. The current plan is to try to access a specialist. After we returned home, there was a message from a nurse at the cardiology clinic I’ve visited. I called the naturopathic doctor and had him listen to that message via speaker-phone. He is not in agreement with their assessment. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I never did get to the sawmill work yesterday. I was diverted by another worthy project—installing lighting in my mill shed. With it getting dark so early these days, that will be an asset—allowing me to do some sawmill work on into darkness. I just set up the mill under that new lighting. Pretty nice. The special lamps I ordered for that purpose just arrived yesterday which added incentive.

The new dog Max is outside the door begging for my appearance. I guess he thinks I’m his master now. I just let him in. Whew! Even after his bath yesterday, he has a serious dog smell.

Blessings. Have a good night.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Between verses 39 and 54 this statement is made by Jesus 4 times—“I will raise him up at the last day.” It has to be important for Him to repeat it so many times. But what does it really mean? Without getting too technical, let’s examine the idea by raising a few basic questions.

What is meant by being raised? Taking it all into account, it first involves a natural death (something everyone does, you know), then being supernaturally resurrected at an appointed “last day” with a new form of life that will never end—all in wonderful friendly fellowship with our Maker.

Who will be raised? They are those whom the Father has given Jesus (v.39), those who look to Jesus and believe in Him (v.40), and those who eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood (v.54). These descriptions are fairly easy to understand—except the last one. Concerning that, I have concluded that Jesus is speaking symbolically of those who appropriate to themselves the saving influence of His broken body and shed blood. That, of course, is the intended meaning contained in the Holy Communion ceremony observed in most Christian churches. I believe it also means seeking and receiving Jesus’ Life as imparted through God’s Word, about which Jesus states, “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

What is the meaning of believing in Him? It simply involves truly and decisively believing that Jesus Christ is one’s only hope for escaping the consequences of sin, and believing that enough to obey Him and His Word.

When is the last day? Well, sorry, the Biblical record does not allow knowing specific times and dates. All we need to know is that there will be a last day—that God will bring to termination this dispensation of time and unite those He raises with new life—eternal life.

I know this kind of thing is not on the ballots now being counted—but I certainly want to vote for this hope. All the alternatives hold no appeal. The key to it all still remains—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Without a doubt, this is the criteria that determines who will be raised to eternal life “at the last day.”