Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good evening, Zane.

My morning contained a bit of excitement. When I was heading out our driveway to do my old man jog with the dogs, a car went out of control on the snow/ice-covered road and collided with another vehicle that ended up on its side in the south-bound lane. I think this is the 4th time that out-of-control vehicles have wiped out our mailbox. I’ll try to stick on a photo glimpse of that scene.

I think we have about 3-4” of snow at present. Since tires on my old pickup truck are on the bald side, I just blew a big wad today and had new tires installed. That will provide me with a lot more security in handling these road conditions.

May you resonate with heaven’s music as described in these chapters in Revelation. Love and prayers—Tua/Ray.d night. Love and prayers. Tua/Ray.

Wow! Things are heating up in heaven as the “wedding supper of the Lamb” approaches. This is no small party! Lots of noise. Lots of excitement. Lots of praise.

Try to imagine the setting as a loud voice booms from the Throne’s gigantic PA system: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”

Let’s take time to give special attention to that special order. I trust it is not boastful to state my belief that I qualify (by means of grace) to participate in this praise. How so?

1. I choose to believe, based upon the standards of the Word, that I have been created and designed to be His servant. I’ve learned enough about life to know that things can go real wacky if I get that turned around so that I regard God as my Genie-like servant to meet my wants and needs. (IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT YOU MUST ANSWER: DOES GOD EXIST FOR YOU, OR DO YOU EXIST FOR GOD?)
2. I choose to fear Him—in fact, I’m afraid NOT to fear Him. If I really believe the description the Scriptures give of The Most High, how could I deliberately conform to any other posture? There is no way I can avoid the conclusion that IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM! Nor can I avoid the conclusion that people resist that foundational fact to their own hurt.

There are two more classifications of those who are ordered to do this praising—“small and great.” So which are you? Which am I? Well, I think it doesn’t really matter much. And since I know that questing for greatness is such a dangerous option, I’m quite happy with the rating of small—about the size of a grain of sand on the shore of time.

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” (Revelation 19:6-7) If this is the inspired concert song of the redeemed then, don’t you agree that it is fitting to be practicing our lines now? Indeed—after all, Biblical instruction affirms that our now determines our then.