Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good day, Zane

Has it really been over a month since my last devo message? Wow! I guess that’s a little indication of how spaced out I am with all manner of both personal and commercial work. But I did manage to do my little old man jog-lette this morning before the temperature rises to unbearable levels. Have you ever heard of a “jog-lette”? Maybe I could call it a “petite run”…or a ”mini-x.” At least it kinda feels better to do something of cardio value rather than nothing.

The day is looming with a long list. I’d better get on with it.

Love and prayers—Tua.

It’s a simple statement—only 7 words. It makes very little sense to the typical unbeliever, but for those of us who have been touched by the Spirit of God, it is a profound description of our orientation and perspective. It’s a matter of believing God’s Word over and above our sensory perceptions. Seeing (or the ability to see) does not necessarily result in believing. In fact, sight alone can be very deceptive. So this living by faith is a matter of living according to what we know and believe deep in our mind and spirit rather than what we see or feel.

In the previous chapter, Paul gave us a faith standard for this perspective: “So we fix our eyes (eyes of faith) not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). Therefore, please, please, please, do your utmost to keep looking at what you can’t see (Colossians 3:1-4)! How’s that for a revolutionary concept?! But this is exactly what the whole quest for successful Christian living requires.

Let’s review some of the qualities of faith (things to believe and live by) as contained in this passage. I’ll present them here in the form of motivations in the first person:

1. I haven’t seen it or been there yet, but I believe I am headed toward a spiritual, but very real, dimension of immortality with the Lord (vv. 1-10).
2. I understand that this wonderful status is very conditional—it is essential that I make it my “goal to please him” (v. 9) and to “fear the Lord” (v. 11).
3. I believe I will face an unavoidable appointment of personal examination before “the judgment seat of Christ” (v. 10).
4. A huge amount of motivation is afforded me toward loving God in the mind-boggling demonstration of the “love of Christ” (v. 14).
5. I have been given the “ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18)—the responsibility to assist others in finding personal relationship with God—so my job description is like that of an “ambassador for Christ” (v. 20) here within the foreign territory of a fallen world.