Tribblemaker's (Steve's) Story

Tribble, I can't help but point out one very important fact. Jesus DOES NOT come back to pass judgement on the people of earth. He comes back to save them from their evil ways and take them to heaven.

I am going over to read your final version now, and hope you have worded this fact in such a way that it is comical and not condisending.

I also must point out that CV is not an authority on Christian theology.

No, CV is not an authority and certainly neither am I, but in this case I'm making reference to this:

Final Judgment is the sentence that will be passed on our actions at the last day (Matt. 25; Rom. 14:10, 11; 2 Cor. 5: 10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). The judge is Jesus Christ. All judgment is committed to him (Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; Rev. 1:7). The persons to be judged are, (1) the whole race of Adam without a single exception (Matt. 25:31-46; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; Rev. 20:11-15); and (2) the fallen angels (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).

There are a lot of interpretations of Jesus and his actions out there, both informed and uninformed, and I'm simply pointing out one of them.

Thanks Steve, it's good to know you've been searching scripture.

Here is a little part of an email I sent to some of my friends just recently. It takes on the why of Jesus and why he returns:

If someone were to ask, 'Who is this Jesus?' would you start by describing the manger scene? Or something He said or did?

It's important to know how to answer because this is the most important question one can ask. You see, people talk quite freely about 'God' in a general way. They may even talk about cute little cherubs, mighty guardian angels, or supernatural miracles.
However, something different happens if you say 'Jesus.' The mere mention of His name enflames tempers and causes strife. How can His name cause so much frustration, confusion, and anger when the Lord is filled with such love for all people?

The issue is that the name of Jesus demands a decision. When you move from a generalized idea of 'God' to Christ's specific redemptive act of atonement, simple notions of 'my god' and 'your god' are expelled. Christ's death on our behalf requires a response of 'accept' or 'reject' from every person. At His name, one has to face the true God in heaven and the Son whom He sent. And that's where people get uncomfortable.

When Jesus asked Peter to describe Him, the apostle immediately replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Matt. 6:16). There was no ambiguity or hesitation. Peter knew who Jesus was, and he was not ashamed of his answer.

I have this to add and then I'll drop it because I am not a preacher, just a lover of Scripture:

The Final Judgement

It is important to understand on what basis we will be judged. It’s not on the basis of what I have done for God, but rather, what God has done for me!

Back in the Garden of Eden, God gave the word, “In the day you eat thereof, you shall surely die.” The Bible teaches there are actually two deaths; one physical and the other spiritual. Jesus warned that we are to fear the second death more than the first death. He discussed the second death as hell, which is eternal seperation from God. Jesus indicated that the death of the body is nothing compared to the conscious everlasting banishment of a soul from God.

God is no respector of persons. Whether a pauper or a prince, no one will be exempt from the Great White Throne Judgement, except believers. The Bible states, “He who believes in Me is not condemned but he who does not believe in Me is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son” (John 3:18). The purpose of this final confrontation between God and man is to clearly demonstrate to the non-believer why he is already condemned.

The Books

One of the books which will be opened at the Great White Throne Judgement will be the book of God’s law. Anyone who had been exposed to the truth of God’s law will be held responsible. For those who might say, “I lived by the Ten Commandments,” it will clearly be shown they did not.

Perhaps another book that will be used will contain a record of everything we have said or done. The Bible tells us, “For God will judge us for everything we do, including every hidden thing, good or bad” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement” (Matthew 12:36).

Another book may show how humanity fails to live up to its own standards. The Scriptures state, “Even when Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong. They demonstrate that God’s law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right. The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone’s secret life. This is my message” (Romans 2:14 NLT).

Then, there may be a book that has a record of all the times the gospel was heard and then rejected. Knowledge brings responsibility!

Finally, the Book of Life will be opened. The nail-scarred hands of Jesus will scan the book for names. “Depart from Me, you cursed one, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels . . . “ (Matthew 25:41).

If you don’t know him now, He won’t know you then.

Lake of Fire

The Lake of Fire is the final destination for Satan and his followers.

You will decide where you spend eternity. It’s not based on how bad or good I am but on what I have done with Jesus Christ. Say “yes” to Him now, and He will say “yes” to you then. Say “no” to Him now, and He will say “no” to you then.

Remember, your life is a gift of God to use and invest for His Glory.

A World of Peace

“He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. . . He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 72:2,4-.

What kind of world will there be when Satan is chained? The wolf will lay down with the lamb as animals will be tame and docile. There will be no more disabilities, suffering or crime.

“And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will shout and sing! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the desert. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. And a main road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-hearted people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there” (Isaiah 35:5-8 NLT).

There will finally be world peace! The Scriptures tell us, “The Lord will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end” (Isaiah 2:4 NLT).

Lastly, the curse that came upon the world because of sin will be lifted! The Bible states, “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God’s curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:19-23 NLT).

TDC

First comment: Eye-Yi-Yi! lol Very funny and manages to keep the reader's interest.

A few things I noticed in the 3rd draft (and there were only a few):

P6 "Go down the college." - While I know it's country bumpkin talk, it feels like it's missing a word. Maybe "Go down ta the college."

top of p7 "second" should read "seconds"

p8 "C in C" - it's Commander in Chief, but is that common usage? Just wondering.

That's it! Hillarious and fun. I like it.

TDC, you mentioned your post in your e-mail today, but I hadn't had a chance to read it until now. There's certainly no hard feelings or anything like that. I think we all feel free to speak our minds and give our opinions even on controversial topics.

I know I'm not an authority on Christian theology, but I am about to get a masters degree in history, and history is chock full of people who interpreted, reinterpreted, and misinterpreted the Bible and the words in it. The fact is that there are many thousands of people out there who believe Jesus is going to return some day and pass judgment, whether you believe that's the correct interpretation of it or not. Literally every generation of Christians has believed that they are the ones who are going to be around when Jesus returns. The current one is obviously no exception.

I don't think that Trib is out of line in the least by including that line in his story, and if you're not one of the people who believes that, then there is no reason to be offended by it. Is there?

Thanks for letting me off the hook, Teach!

I love Tribble's story and feel it is great just the way it is.

And you, my friend, are great and very understanding of my little quirks...er...um ...or is that Quark's? heh!!

See ya tonight at the meeting I hope?

TDC

OK, Trib...where's your example of the ultimate LEAD IN? Tee Hee...

I'm just kiddin' with ya...but, if we are going to try another chat meeting on SKYPE for this Thursday, I sure would like to read it before we talk.

If I wrote one for mine, it would be maybe a paragraph...but might be as short as three sentences (?) so I would like to read what you would do, so I can adjust what I have to say accordingly.

Thanks and TATERS!

Hey TDC,

I spoke to Whiggy last night on Skype, but by that time everyone else had bailed, so no one got to hear the fun and hilarity.

I told him that when I came up with the concept of individual introductions, I had NO IDEA how hard it would be to actually write one. I've tried and tried, and I can't come up with anything I like. So if it's okay with everyone, I'd like to cheerfully pitch that idea overboard and pretend it never existed. :-)

Oh no you don't!! Don't chicken out that easy!! Mua-ha-ha!!

If you put an idea out there, ya gotta be willing to back it up!! hee hee hee!

What would all the little kids do if Santa said he'd get them that toy, then chickened out on Christmas Eve???

thedreamcontinued wrote:

Oh no you don't!! Don't chicken out that easy!! Mua-ha-ha!!

If you put an idea out there, ya gotta be willing to back it up!! hee hee hee!

What would all the little kids do if Santa said he'd get them that toy, then chickened out on Christmas Eve???

Oh, all right. Wouldn't want to disappoint the kids. I'll take another whack at it.

THAT'S MY LITTLE TATER TOT!!