The Most Frightening Day in History

What would you say was the most frightening day in human history? I'm sure we all would have a list of those disastrous events. But a day is coming where billions of people will be panicking but it'll be too late for them.

Jesus said he'd come back in judgement of all people who ever lived. Matthew 13:47-50 BBE) reads, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, which was put into the sea and took in every sort of fish: When it was full, they took it up on the sands; and seated there they put the good into vessels, but the bad they put away. So will it be in the end of the world: the angels will come and take out the bad from the good, And will put them into the fire: there will be weeping and cries of sorrow."

Notice that it's the Kingdom of Heaven which Christ was describing. The church has both saved and unsaved individuals in it. Jesus told a parable about a farmer sewing good seed and an enemy spreading weed seeds on the land during the night. But the weeds weren't pulled up lest they also root up the good wheat. At harvest time, meaning the end of this wicked age, the wheat was gathered up but the look-alike tares were burned. Matthew 13:40 (BBE) warns, "As then the evil plants are got together and burned with fire, so will it be in the end of the world."

Jesus likewise described the fate of the phoney Christians in Matthew 7:22 and 23 (BBE). "A great number will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?' And then will I say to them, 'I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.'"

But this most-frightening day also includes every sinner who ever lived on this planet. Revelation 6:15 and 16(BBE) declares, "And the kings of the earth, and the rulers, and the chief captains, and the men of wealth, and the strong, and every servant and free man, took cover in the holes and the rocks of the mountains; And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Come down on us, covering us from the face of him who is seated on the high seat, and from the wrath of the Lamb:'"

When Christ comes again, every person will be separated according to their nature. The righteous will be on his right and the wicked on his left. As Matthew 25:31 and 32 (BBE), using a livestock metaphor, explains, "But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he be seated in his glory: And before him all the nations will come together; and they will be parted one from another, as the sheep are parted from the goats by the keeper."

Furthermore, hell is so horrific that the Bible uses metaphors such as fire, darkness, and worms to describe it's torments. Mark 9:48 and 49 (BBE) ends Christ's description of that place of eternal punishment. "Where their worm is ever living and the fire is not put out. Everyone will be salted with fire."

Even angels aren't immune to being exiled to hell. Jude 1:6 tells us, "And the angels who did not keep to their kingdom but went out from the place which was theirs, he has put in eternal chains and in dark night till the great day of the judging."

I hope you're a child of the Lord and not of your father, the Devil. So many folks assume they'll be paradise bound when they die but they'll end up incarcerated with demons eternally. That's why I'm writing my book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? I want none of my readers to end up in such a horrifying place.

On Saturday, I'll post about a sunken ship and that was immortalized in a song by Gordon Lightfoot.

Christ Knows Our Pain

One of many benefits of being born again and being adopted into the family of Christ is that he knows what we're going through. In man-made religions, the gods barely tolerate their worshippers. And philosophies such as Buddhism have no real answers to our human condition.

Unlike-manufactured deities, Christ has made us his children and sacrificed himself to pay for our sins. Hebrews 2:14 (BBE) explains, "And because the children are flesh and blood, he took a body himself and became like them; so that by his death he might put an end to him who had the power of death, that is to say, the Evil One;"

Jesus, our high priest, understands our infirmities. Hebrews 4:15 (BBE) explains, "For we have not a high priest who is not able to be touched by the feelings of our feeble flesh; but we have one who has been tested in all points as we ourselves are tested, but without sin."

Christ knows what it's like to be human, as Matthew 8:24 (BBE) shows. "And there came up a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was sleeping." Our Lord was so tired from ministering and teaching that even the storm didn't wake him.

Our Master became thirsty, as John 4:5 and 6 (BBE) demonstrates. "So he came to a town of Samaria which was named Sychar, near to the bit of land which Jacob gave to his son Joseph: Now Jacob's fountain was there. Jesus, being tired after his journey, was resting by the fountain. It was about the sixth hour." That's when he met a sinful woman who came to get water but who also received living water.

Our Saviour also knew how deeply it hurts to be betrayed by a friend. We read in Luke 22:47 and 48 BBE) how he was turned in by one of his own disciples to the authorities. "And while he was saying these words, there came a band of people, and Judas, one of the twelve, was in front of them, and he came near to Jesus to give him a kiss. But Jesus said to him, 'Judas, will you be false to the Son of man with a kiss?'"

I could write so much more about the humanity of Christ but I'll save it for my book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? To many unsaved folks, Jesus was just a kind man who got killed for saying how nice it would be if people were nice to one another. I hope I may show the dynamic person Christ was in my writing.

On Thursday, I'll post about the most terrifying day in history. It's yet to come.

Bruce Atchison, Christ Knows Our Pain, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 8:24, Luke 22:47 and 48, You Think You're Going to Heaven?

Saturday Song: Inner Circle, "Bad Boys"

This is one of my favourite reggae songs. The American TV show, "Cops" used it as their theme song, an apt choice as far as I'm concerned.

I found the full length version of the tune. Take a listen to it.

I'm glad that God is the ultimate police officer and judge combined. This saves us the trouble of seeking revenge on those who wronged us. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:19 (KJV), "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

We couldn't have perfect revenge even if we could take it. We only see a person's exterior so we don't understand why they did what they did. But Jeremiah 17:10 (KJV) quotes God as saying, "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

Furthermore, God knows what people are up to. Revelation 20:12 (KJV) says, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

People figure God can't see them if they do their sins in secret. But Jesus tells us in Luke 8:17 (KJV), "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad."

And as God spoke through his prophet in Jeremiah 23:24 (KJV), "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."

What a relief it is that God will repay the crimes against us by the wicked. Does this song and what I wrote make you glad? Please let me know in the space below.

Monday's post will be about how our Lord went through all the trials of life which we experience.

Joining the Ultimate Royal Family

What would you think if a royal family wanted to adopt you? I'm sure most of us would be flattered and some might even accept that offer. We could give up our jobs and live in luxury. No more mowing lawns or making dinner for us since some servants would do all that.

What many folks shamefully reject is the magnanimous offer of the King of Kings to adopt them into his family. Paul explains this benefit of surrendering one's life to Christ in Romans 8:13-15 (BBE). "For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life. And all those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not get the spirit of servants again to put you in fear, but the spirit of sons was given to you, by which we say, Abba, Father."

Though our spirits are adopted at this time, we'll also have new bodies to live in when Christ returns. Romans 8:23 (BBE) explains, "And not only so, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we have sorrow in our minds, waiting for the time when we will take our place as sons, that is, the salvation of our bodies."

We also read in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (BBE) that, "See, I am giving you the revelation of a secret: we will not all come to the sleep of death, but we will all be changed. In a second, in the shutting of an eye, at the sound of the last horn: for at that sound the dead will come again, free for ever from the power of death, and we will be changed. For this body which comes to destruction will be made free from the power of death, and the man who is under the power of death will put on eternal life."

But for now, we have access to all the spiritual blessings of God through the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:19 (BBE) says, "So then you are no longer as those who have no part or place in the kingdom of God, but you are numbered among the saints, and of the family of God,"

We also can do what the Levites in Israel could never do, except for the chief priest once a year. Because we're Christ's children, we may enter his throne room through prayer. Hebrews 10:22 (BBE) invites us, "Let us go in with true hearts, in certain faith, having our hearts made free from the sense of sin and our bodies washed with clean water:"

Isn't this, along with the peace of mind and rest promised us, worth surrendering our wills to the Master? I'll point this out in my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Through Adam, we all have offended the creator of the universe. But through Christ, we gain his pardon. Doesn't it make sense therefor to give up our own foolish ways to follow him?

On Saturday, I'll post about a song which was used on a reality police show.

What's Jesus Doing These Days?

Somebody who doesn't know much about the Bible might wonder what Christ is doing these days. After all, he ascended into heaven and we won't see him again until he comes back to judge humanity.

The Bible does tell us something of what our Lord is up to. For example, we can read what he does for us in 1 John 2:1 (BBE). "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may be without sin. And if any man is a sinner, we have a friend and helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, the upright one:"

Better still, he gives us forgiveness when we sin, as 1 John 1:9 (BBE) points out. "If we say openly that we have done wrong, he is upright and true to his word, giving us forgiveness of sins and making us clean from all evil."

Through John, we get a glimpse of what our Lord is like in his heavenly home. Revelation 5:5 and 6 (BBE) shows him receiving the deed to the universe from the Father. "And one of the rulers said to me, 'Do not be sad: see, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome, and has power to undo the book and its seven stamps.' And I saw in the middle of the high seat and of the four beasts, and in the middle of the rulers, a Lamb in his place, which seemed as if it had been put to death, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth."

We also see that Christ received authority and power at his ascension. Daniel 7:13 and 14 (BBE) foretold this. "I saw in visions of the night, and there was coming with the clouds of heaven one like a man, and he came to the one who was very old, and they took him near before him. And to him was given authority and glory and a kingdom; and all peoples, nations, and languages were his servants: his authority is an eternal authority which will not come to an end, and his kingdom is one which will not come to destruction".

John, the disciple of Christ, also wrote down what our Lord dictated to him regarding the seven churches in what is now Turkey. I believe he's still concerned with his church. Paul described us as Christ's body with him as the head. Since Jesus gave no indication of this relationship ending, I must assume that it will be for all eternity.

I'll be writing more about Christ and his role as the head of the faithful in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Our Lord is still working through his people to shape them into fit citizens for his eternal kingdom. What an honour we've been given!

Thursday's post will be about a royal family anybody can join.

Saturday Song: Elvis Costello, "Watching the Detectives"

I must admit that I enjoy songs which aren't about the joys and vicissitudes of love. This is a song about the coarse and often immoral world of detectives. The murderer under suspicion also shows her callous side in this song as she files her nails while they're dragging the lake for a body or bodies.

Hear "Watching the Detectives" here.

So, how does a person become heartless? It comes from stifling one's conscience until it no longer afflicts one with guilt. The Apostle Paul explained how people can become cold-blooded sinners in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (KJV). "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"

Once the nerve endings in seared flesh die, pain can't be felt. So it is with the consciences of the habitually wicked. Lying and other sins are only evaluated by such people for their effectiveness in getting them what they want. In Paul's example, it was for gaining a following. In other folks, sinning is their way of gaining power and riches.

How glad I am that God promised an end to this madness. Christ will return to crush Satan's rebellion totally. It can't happen too soon for me but people who haven't repented and given their lives over to Christ will wish they had more time.

If you enjoyed this song and what I wrote, please leave a comment in the box below. But if not, have a great weekend anyway.

On Monday, I'll deal with the question of what Christ is doing today.

What About All the Good I've Done?

God must seem like a meany to so many people. They can understand Adolf Hitler or Pol Pot being in hell but what about (fill in the blank) who never harmed anybody?

At the risk of repeating myself, nobody is good. Check out what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:10 and 11 (BBE) with respect to all humanity, "As it is said in the holy Writings, 'There is not one who does righteousness; Not one who has the knowledge of what is right, not one who is a searcher after God;'"

Furthermore, God isn't a sadist.  If he were, he wouldn't have said in Ezekiel 18:31 and 32 (BBE), "Put away all your evil-doing in which you have done sin; and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit: why are you desiring death, O children of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him on whom death comes, says the Lord: be turned back then, and have life." does that sound sadistic to you?

Furthermore, why would God have sent Christ, the sinless one, to die in our place? Because he has pity on us. The heavenly Father said through Paul in Romans 5:6 (BBE), "For when we were still without strength, at the right time Christ gave his life for evil-doers."

And as I've explained before, it's the motives of our hearts which the Lord judges. Hebrews 4:12 (BBE), usually quoted regarding the Bible, shows how he knows our every thought. "For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart".

But some folks will point out scriptures regarding the Judgement Day where Christ rewards folks who met the needs of the poor. This too is where Christ sees the motives of the genuinely-caring people verses the pretenders. Matthew 5:28 (BBE)shows how even our thoughts are wicked. "But I say to you that everyone whose eyes are turned on a woman with desire has had connection with her in his heart."

So we must realize that doing good to show off or gain points with God won't excuse us from punishment. I'll have to keep pointing this hard-to-swallow truth out in my book called You Think You're Going to Heaven. People don't want to admit this but we are all biased toward thinking good things about ourselves while ignoring our faults.

And speaking of wicked motives, my Saturday Song post will be about those who seek evidence of wrongdoing but even they do wrong things at times

Will God Answer if Only One Person Prays?

In my experience, certain people believe that many prayers for something will more likely make it come to pass. Certainly it's not a sin to have many believers asking God for souls to be saved. But I know from the Bible that God will answer even one prayer from a single person when that prayer aligns with his will.

Remember the story of Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal? They had a contest to see which god would answer. The priests of Baal danced around their altar all day but nobody answered. We read in 1 Kings 18:36-38 (BBE) how one prayer by one man was answered. "Then at the time of the offering, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O Lord, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be seen this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things by your order. Give me an answer, O Lord, give me an answer, so that this people may see that you are God, and that you have made their hearts come back again.' Then the fire of the Lord came down, burning up the offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and drinking up the water in the drain."

As I've pointed out before, and will have to keep pointing it out, Matthew 18:20 doesn't mean that Christ is with people when two or three are gathered in his name. The context of the chapter shows that he was speaking about church discipline.

The Jews had a law that charges must be verified by more than one witness. Deuteronomy 17:6 (BBE) makes this clear. "On the word of two or three witnesses, a man may be given the punishment of death; but he is not to be put to death on the word of one witness."

As we also read in 2 Corinthians 13:1 (BBE), This also applies to correct doctrine. "This is the third time that I am coming to you. From the mouth of two or three witnesses will every word be made certain."

And as James 5:16 (BBE) affirms, God answers the prayers of one or many faithful believers. "So then, make a statement of your sins to one another, and say prayers for one another so that you may be made well. The prayer of a good man is full of power in its working."

Prayer is an important topic. I'll be including it in my book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Believers need to know how to pray and what to pray for. As it is, there's too much error preached in churches.

On Thursday, I'll post about why just being "good" doesn't impress God.

Saturday Song: Lenny Kravitz, "Let Love Rule"

Are you one who likes music because of its sound? I'm like that. It doesn't matter to me who creates the kind of music I like. There are no quotas in my music collection. I like what I like.

That's why I fell in love with the sound of Lenny Kravitz in 1991. It sounded so much like what I heard on 630 CHED in 1970 that I bought many of his albums.

Enjoy "Let Love Rule" here.

We who trust in Christ are encouraged to do this throughout the scriptures. Instead of separating ourselves into cliques, we should fellowship with all the members of our church. As Paul pointed out in Romans 12:9 (KJV), "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

Because we have the love of Christ dwelling in us, we naturally are kind to others and passionate about worshipping the Lord. As it says in John 3:21 (KJV) "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

So, what's your opinion on Lenny Kravitz's music and what I've written? Please let me know. But if you'd rather not comment, have a beautiful weekend anyway.

On Monday, I'll post about a misapprehension which many Christians have regarding prayer.

The 1 Corinthians 2:9 Error

Another misinterpreted verse is 2 Corinthians 2:9. I was taught, and chances you were too, that it meant the glories we'll experience in Heaven. Simple grammar and studying the previous verses proves that notion to be wrong.

The verse reads in the Bible in Basic English, "But as it says in the holy Writings, Things which the eye saw not, and which had not come to the ears or into the heart of man, such things as God has made ready for those who have love for him.,"

First of all, Paul is quoting the Old Testament. This verse is speaking of future judgement, not the joys of heaven. Isaiah 64:4 (BBE) reads,The ear has not had news of, or the eye seen, ... any God but you, working for the man who is waiting for him."

Read the previous verses and you'll find that Isaiah was prophesying judgement to come. He longed for the heavens to open and God to come down and judge the wicked. When Jesus came in the flesh, he pronounced judgement upon Jerusalem. The city was destroyed in 70 AD, just as he prophesied.

Reading ahead in Paul's letter, we see that the world doesn't have the understanding we do regarding judgement and spiritual matters. In fact, 1 Corinthians 2:16 (BBE)tells us whose understanding we have. "For who has knowledge of the mind of the Lord, so as to be his teacher? But we have the mind of Christ."

Of course we also know that a final judgement will come upon the world. All sinful things will be destroyed and only righteousness will survive. The world as we know it will be vapourized, just as Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:10 (BBE) how it will happen. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; and in that day the heavens will be rolled up with a great noise, and the substance of the earth will be changed by violent heat, and the world and everything in it will be burned up."

I hope someday to publish my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? It's true that God is love but part of that love is giving sinners the opportunity to accept or reject his rule over them. This limited time offer ends when we die or when Christ returns. I want as many people as possible to hear this important truth.

On Saturday, I'll post about love and why we must let it rule our hearts.

Parsing 2 Peter 3:9

Our Bible certainly is a remarkable tome. No matter how long and hard we study it, we discover truths which we never realized before.

I've been a Christian since 1969. After learning error from an aberrant house church, I had to unlearn their lies and learn the truth. For decades, I thought 2 Peter 3:9 was about God's wish that everybody would be born again. It was also one scripture which the cultic church I attended claimed meant that everybody would be eventually saved.

So, what does this verse actually mean? A preacher named Voddie Baucham showed in one sermon that this scripture doesn't mean God's permissive will but that God's waiting for all the believers to come to faith in Christ.

This verse in the Bible in Basic English reads, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his word, as he seems to some, but he is waiting in mercy for you, not desiring the destruction of any, but that all may be turned from their evil ways."

In the previous verses, Peter was speaking of those mockers who doubted God's future judgement upon them. As he wrote in 2 Peter 3:3 and 4 (BBE) that, "Having first of all the knowledge that in the last days there will be men who, ruled by their evil desires, will make sport of holy things, Saying, 'Where is the hope of his coming? From the death of the fathers till now everything has gone on as it was from the making of the world.'"

After pointing out that the world was destroyed in the flood, he wrote in 2 Peter 3:7 (BBE), "But the present heaven and the present earth have been kept for destruction by fire, which is waiting for them on the day of the judging and destruction of evil men."

Then we learn that time is no problem for our Father. As 2 Peter 3:8 (BBE) says, "But, my loved ones, keep in mind this one thing, that with the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years are no more than one day."

This verse changes the focus from the scoffers to the "loved ones" to whom he was writing. It reassures them, and us, that the seaming slowness of God to punish the scoffers is done for a good reason. That reason is revealed in verse nine.

For decades, I was taught that 2 Peter 3:9 was addressing sinners. Now, by Voddie Baucham's use of simple grammar, I realize that Peter was speaking of those who our Lord chose for Christ. Look at what John 17:9 and 10 (BBE) says. "My prayer is for them: my prayer is not for the world, but for those whom you have given to me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine) and I have glory in them."

We learn about these "loved ones" whom our Lord chose in 2 Timothy 1:9 and 10 (BBE), "Who gave us salvation, marking us out for his purpose, not on account of our works, but in the measure of his purpose and his grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, But has now been made clear by the revelation of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who put an end to death and made life unending come to light through the good news,"

What a joy it is then that our Master will lose none of the people whom his Father has predestined for salvation. We need not fear losing our place in heaven because of some kind of damning sin.

I'll be writing about our assurance of salvation in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? As John MacArthur observed, he would have lost his salvation long ago if it were possible to lose it.


On Thursday, I'll deal with another misunderstood passage of scripture.

Saturday Song: The Electric Light Orchestra, "Mr. Radio"

To most people, a radio is just a box which plays music or gives news reports. They have only a vague idea of how it receives signals and converts them into sound waves which our ears can hear.

But for me, my radio was my lifeline to the outside world. In my Deliverance from Jericho memoir, I wrote about how having my own radio made me feel a little less depressed at that institution.

One November afternoon in 1969, I happened to pick up a radio station from Edmonton, Alberta. Since my home town of Fort Saskatchewan was only twenty miles north of that city, I felt like I made contact with home by receiving that station.

The Electric Light Orchestra recorded a song about the comforting presence of a radio on their first album. I readily identified with it because of my experience at the blind school.

Hear this song here.

We Christians are also exiles, even though we've never set foot in heaven. But we do have a home waiting for us there when we die. John 14:2-3 (KJV) reminds us with the words of Jesus, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

The Word of God is our lifeline to heaven, as is prayer. Just as I felt a connection to my home through receiving that station, so we have an assurance of better things to come. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18 (KJV), "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

A day will come when this world will be replaced with a better one. Revelation 21:4 (KJV) tells us this wonderful news. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Just as I left Jericho Hill School and never returned to it, so we won't have to live in captivity anymore. We'll be united with Jesus and all the faithful who followed him.

So, what do you think of what I've written and this song? Please let me know in the box below.

On Monday, I'll post about another Bible verse which people misquote and misapply.

"Why Do You Call Me Good?"

Since Jesus was the Son of God, why did he ask this question of the rich, young ruler? This sounds like a contradiction but it in fact isn't.

In Luke 18:18 and 19 (BBE), we read about this encounter between Christ and a leader from the temple. "And a certain ruler put a question to him, saying, 'Good Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you say that I am good? No one is good, but only God.'"

Jesus didn't say he was or wasn't God but he doubted the ruler's sincerity. The Pharisees and Sadducees often questioned Christ but it was for a pretence. As Mark 12:13 (BBE) states, "Then they sent to him certain of the Pharisees and the Herodians, so that they might make use of his words to take him by a trick."

Jesus knew who were true believers and who were mere followers of him as long as he said and did what they wanted. As Matthew 2:23 and 24 (BBE) explains, "Now while he was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, a great number of people came to have faith in his name, after seeing the signs which he did. But Jesus did not have faith in them, because he had knowledge of them all."

Our Lord deliberately spoke "hard sayings" so the fake disciples would turn away from him, as John chapter six says. Jesus even knew that Judas Iscariot would betray him. Check out what John 6:70 (BBE) says.  "Then Jesus said, 'Did I not make a selection of you, the twelve, and one of you is a son of the Evil One?'"

Furthermore, Judas was so clever that none of the disciples realized he was false. But Jesus wasn't fooled. John 13:18 (BBE) proves this. "I am not talking of you all: I have knowledge of my true disciples, but things are as they are, so that the Writings may come true, 'The foot of him who takes bread with me is lifted up against me.'"

Because people have such a hard time understanding that none of us are good, I'll have to repeat that truth ad nauseam in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People can't seem to grasp that we all are born bad.

Saturday's song post will be about a good companion to many lonely people: radio. I sure needed it in Jericho Hill School.