Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

Let me first follow up on my last word of yesterday—where I was inclined to suspicion a connection between the content of yesterday’s post with the reception of that crazy email message. At the suggestion of a friend, Becki reported the matter to our provider (Molalla Communications). She was given the judgment that the email in question was most likely sent by an unrelated party (apparently in Argentina) engaging in the common and contemptible practice of “phishing.” On the other hand, this does not mean that cyber mail is not being monitored by who-knows-who and why.

It’s about time for us to do our little walk/jog excursion.

May your day be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

The law of physics comes to mind that says, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” It seems that both David and Solomon are applying the same principle to thinking and behavior—suggesting that all psycho-spiritual conceptions with their corresponding actions produce the offspring of benefits or consequences.

Without intending to get sexy with all this, I think it’s appropriate to recognize that the phenomenon of sex is exactly the implicit metaphor being presented. In fact, it’s used quite commonly through Scripture. It’s even implied in the setting of the garden where Eve figured she could give in to the seduction of Satan with no consequence—without getting pregnant. Of course, Adam was exempted from guilt, and participated in the act as well. Talk about giving “birth to disillusionment!” The entire chain of human genealogy was thereafter affected. (Read Romans 5.) Since we are familiar with what causes a man to become a father, or a woman to become a mother, how can we avoid this implicit metaphor contained in the words of Jesus to His angry opponents?—“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire” (John 8:44). Left to ourselves, I guess we are all “pregnant with evil,” slave-born of our “father, the devil.” That’s the default setting of the NATURAL SIN NATURE. But, praise God!—the Biblical Gospel becomes incredibly wonderful at this point—actually offering individuals the opportunity to alter their heredity, abandon their perverse father, and become virtually adopted into “the family of God,” allowing them to address Him as, “Our Father which art in heaven” (Luke 11:2, KJV). Add to this John 1:12-13—“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13). How else can we grasp the idea that rattled Nicodemas when Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7)?

Solomon is not indirect in addressing the negative consequences of deviant sex. It’s not just a subtle metaphor. He tells it like it is—describing in this section the steps of a young guy who is brought down by the attractive seduction of an adulteress—finally yielding—“…like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing that it will cost him his life” (Proverbs 7:23). At least we are to understand that such behavior will always deliver unavoidable negative results. And the warning is for all of us!—since the metaphorical presence of the seductive adulteress is everywhere—“…now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks” (Proverbs 7:11-12).

Listen to James expounding on the same cause-and-affect principle: “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:13-15).

Paul is inspired to apply the same principle in the form of the agricultural law of sowing and reaping: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:7-10).