JUDGEMENT DAY

They will be gathered before him

and he will separate the people one from another

as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Jesus

The Prince of Peace never uttered more frightening words than those used to tell us what He must do on Judgement Day. I imagine the words were difficult to say. It was such a nice sermon up until that point. Such a nice day on The Mount. I also imagine - judgement - will be an extraordinarily difficult thing for Him to actually carry out on that day. In the interim, He will have made an enormous personal sacrifices to avoid this.

After He separates the goats, he must tell them to go to hell

The goats aren't going to believe what's going on. They're accustomed to believing logically contradictory things... but this? "Us?" This comes with no warning. It happens so quickly, without the time usually needed to discredit ideas that are logically inconsistent with one's world view. To say that - for the goats - this is "rain on the parade"... is an understatement. They will be caught off guard. They hadn't been watching for this thief. Lordy, Lord.

'Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name
done many wonders in Your name

Defiant arms cross - chins go up - it's a stare down.
'We're going to hell now, are we?'

Pre-Copernican thinkers were not trying to prove their ideas were wrong. That would have been scientific. They were quite comfortable knowing they were right. The methodology of science demands an active and continuous attempt to prove your current theory... false. In this case, true science would require efforts to discredit the geocentric, to seek evidence that the earth was not the center of the universe. The logical construction of the hypothesis would be "earth is the center." Actively trying to disprove this might seem illogical - but that's what real scientists do. And that's what real holy men do. They see through a glass... darkly. But with this small - but true - seeing... they are content. The path lit with this small light will slowly brighten. And, in the end...

Actively confirming one's theory, is indulging in the Confirmation Bias. Pre-Copernican "scientists" were not seeking truth. Like the damned, who will find they are not saved, these fools were not scientists. The damned Self is not interested in this kind of investigative process - at all. The self demands active and continuous confirmation of its salvation. Scientists - and holy men - work to disprove what they think. In this case, unfortunately, the opposite has occurred.

Those who have given up the hard work needed to question - then forgive themselves - turn away from facing the holy spirit of truth. They ignore the ever-present sound of reality knocking at the door. In committing to unforgiveness, they commit the unforgivable. God always forgives - men do not. They are lost. This falling dark slowly dims the way forward until it is gone. The once joy-dazzled eye, blurs it's sight. Over time, the ear accumulating the wax, dulls it's sound. The pain of living slowly numbs and hardens a once soft heart. The still, small voice, the uneasy feeling tugging at the sleeve, is abandoned. Like an unloved child left behind, the last light of untended lamp sputters - leaving no shadows. Only ghost of memory in minds corner. Then even memory is disowned. Truth averted.

Although the final recognition of an obvious truth can happen dramatically - a 'Eureka!' moment. It is usually proceeded by hard work towards a postulated "best guess." Weight of evidence builds slowly until the dawn breaks through. Usually, after straining through a microscope. Only then a dim suspected reality comes into focus. When compared to the practice of science, personal growth is exceptionally difficult.

it's a stare down.
When did we...

I can tell the damned's inquiry is not one last open, curious, question before they commence with their burning. They are starting an argument with the Lord about their "new relationship." Jesus. won't they ever learn? The answer comes quickly, argument over.

Get
away
from Me.
Go on now - to the lake of fire.
|I never
knew
you.
You
never
knew
me

go

(Jesus wept)

Wow, harsh... Hadn't seen that coming. At some point in their careers these "prophets" had looked into the future and missed this particular moment. It hadn't stood out. Jesus didn't sound impressed with demon casting either. Perhaps it should have been self directed. So it's not a lack of charismatic skill or even self reflection that will land them in hot water. This might be a stretch but, I think it will have something to do with common sense. All of us are born with it. That is why it is called "common." After birth, or the age of reason, common sense can either deteriorate into foolishness or blossom into wisdom.

As the momentarily shaken goats quietly begin their last cool evening's stroll though the garden, the shock begins to wear off. Thought returns as from a dream... I didn't really hear that did I? That was part of a day dream. Right? They silently look at each other for fellowship, for "interpretation," for "confirmation" about what might have just happened. If it actually could have happened at all. Was this in scripture? The silence is broken. "Did you hear that? What do you think the Lord meant just now?" A lot of shuffling empty eyed dust kickers are suddenly pissed off they've actually heard a real voice pose this question out loud. They quickly begin to reminisce about the wonders each has performed. Some insist there had been... group efforts. Arguments ensue about who actually did what, and then, who didn't get the credit for what. There is also some discussion about the value of faith verses works. 'Hadn't Martin Luther straightened that all out?' "No, you're forgetting about Calvin." 'No, we all ignored Hobbes,' some halfwit says with a sad regret apparently remembering what had started the whole conversation. 'We should have listened to Hobbes.' Everyone thinks that's simply halfwits usual lame attempt at humor. It not only flopped, it apparently reminds everyone else how the conversation started and everyone stumbles to the left just a bit and thinks that under the circumstances, the attempt at humor was very inappropriate. The word "inconsiderate" had long been stricken from their vocabularies. Some, now taking the situation more seriously, turn the conversation towards speculations about if the whole "Hell" thing had been overdone or whether they'd gotten it at all right. One of them says that he's heard hell is not a place of eternal human suffering, it’s simply a trash dump where stuff just gets burnt up fast. Looking around for a witness, he says 'It's not so bad then, right? It's only the fires that are eternal.' Heads begin to nod and the last thing heard as they go over the hill is... "I wonder what's going to happen to the unbelievers?"

These things are clear...the goats represent bad people and sheep the others. Food, drink, and clothing are involved. Jesus mentions nothing about Luther, Calvin, Hobbes, or even faith for that matter. Some people get a surprise but get over it... for a time. But it had been red letter clear. Stomach turning clear. They chose the wrong path at some point and then promptly forgot about realizing that. It didn't seem that important at the time. The wrong path was nice. Nice trees, nice rocks. They were distracted. They had not been paying attention. Maybe they thought their ideas about judgement were better that the Lord's.

Some other passages are equally disturbing. Paul wasn't a fan of spiritual acrobatics either. He wasn't even happy with clever theological speculation. Aside from the afore mentioned Jesus quotes from the Sermon on the Mount, Paul's words are probably the most famous. These are from the "Love Chapter" and quoted mostly at weddings before everyone is drunk and forgets about the patient-kind-absence of envy-boasting-arrogant-irritable-rude-resentful-insisting on its own way-endurance part. Paul had this to say about the soothsayers and exorcists that were using the Lord's name unwisely (perhaps using the name as an incantation rather than an acknowledgement);

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Paul

He saw the burn coming. If he had access to the urban dictionary he might have been more concise... "put up or shut up." Paul added spin, the 'love' part to the strong words of Jesus. I don't see Him complaining about the addition... but I could be wrong. Some people say that people of good faith can disagree. Others might argue that this is wrong. People who disagree do not have good faith. By definition. But all that aside, it looks like Paul got the basic idea from something Jesus said. But who knows. After all, Paul is the guy who used to torture the Jesus believers before he saw the light. He then had asked those who followed Jesus, and other teachers - including himself - to stop arguing. He put it in writing. He told them "agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you." Early followers found the words important enough to put into scripture. Soon after they fell on deaf ears, didn't they? It 's pretty clear that no one took him seriously. But he wasn't the first, or the last to get that treatment. Warnings to the spiritually overconfident continue to little effect so here is the last one lest I be the fool by professing myself to be wise.

They are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear,

shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds;

fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted.

Jesus' brother - Jude

I'm starting to feel a little warm. Could I possibly be...? Is it hot in here or is it just me? Know what? Full disclosure... I haven't really read the commentaries or the commentaries on the commentaries on these verses. I could be totally missing the whole point of the thing. I'm not a biblical scholar. I've studied some church history but, by all means, am I not an expert. Sometimes I think the bible is to be understood by experts, or people filled with the Holy Spirit... maybe with the help of special rocks and a few archangels. Certainly not common men with common sense. Professing themselves commonly wise, they show themselves to be fools. I wont go on. Let's just agree that there are a bunch of people saying things in Jesus' name that don't know they are hanging themselves... forever. Swinging in the wind. One more thing before I go. There is another parable something about a field with good plants and weeds. He supposedly said something like... "Don't EVER try to judge the good people from the bad people. Not only will you be an apocalyptic danger to yourself and others...

It's my job.

​Take it or leave it.