After this year’s Independence Day Worship Service one of you folks asked me to please don’t forget to address the questions I left unanswered in a previous sermon. Her request was sweet music ears; because that’s something I always hope folks will do and also because I was planning on answering them in the first sermon I preached after returning from vacation. I mentioned the fact that I sometimes do this deliberately in hopes that folks will give a lot of thought to everything I share in my messages. I also appreciate them letting me know whenever I don’t connect all the biblical dots. So-thank you, Agnes. And thank to my daughter for recently re-posting your January 10^th question in my Guest Book, and the rest of you for your patience.

The title of the sermon those two women were referring to was “What If ….? That one generated a lot of feedback and most of it was favorable. To refresh your memory and bring everyone up to speed I have to first take several minutes and go into a little bit of my message of last May 31^st (Flashbacks Into The Kingdom of Darkness) and then pick up where I left off. An amazing conversation had been taking place between a couple of my fictitious characters, a man named Charlie and his guardian angel whose name, would you believe, just happened to be Pal. They are living in “the other side” of eternity. In other words, Charlie and the angel are in the “everlasting present,” a dimension still in our future and which we will enter into when we die.

Charlie had just witnessed three supernatural flashbacks of pitiful scenes depicting members of his family crying out in heartbreaking prayers of anguish to God before he died and left this world. Each of them told Him they wished they had never had been born. And all because of the awful abuse they were each subjected to for most of their lives by this extremely self-centered, inpatient, argumentative, in-your-face-know-it-all loose-cannon. As is often the case with such people; Charlie was totally shocked by these revelations. However, those of you who have been following his exploits know the Lord has been using the almost worn out angel to persuade Charlie that until he becomes holy he will not enter Heaven and see God. You folks also know that slowly but surely, the angel has been making progress with this very stubborn man.

For instance, after watching the last disturbing flashback the angel asked him: “Now what do you have to say for yourself, Charlie?” “Those flashbacks got me convinced!” “I never knew how stinking rotten I really was, Pal. I was good for nothing except to cause a whole bunch of misery for lots of people, especially the ones in my own family. If I was still in my body I think I would pull my tongue out. I can’t even stand myself anymore. They would have been better off without me, Pal. I wish I had never been born.” The angel proceeded to tell Charlie that’s something which can be arranged and to let him know what his wishes are. After a moment the angel asked Charlie what he decided. Did he want to continue living or would he prefer to have his birth reversed.

“Thanks to you and those flashbacks, I now know it isn’t all about me, Pal. It’s all about Him. That’s why I want whatever my Creator planned, ordained, and predestined to happen before He spoke His world into existence.” No sooner had he gotten those words out of his mouth that it seemed as though a switch had been flicked. Everything suddenly lit up. There was no more darkness. None whatsoever! Charlie immediately sensed he was in the presence of four other people. A woman’s voice greeted him. “Welcome home, Charlie.” “Martha? Is that you Martha?” “It sure is dad,” answered Charlie’s son. “We’re happy to see you again, Charlie.” “You’re here too, Claude?” “They’re all here Charlie,” a stranger interjected. “Who are you?” “I was your brother’s therapist.” “But not anymore! I couldn’t be doing any better than I am right now,” said Claude. “I don’t understand. How did you guys get here before me?” “It happened while we were driving in your car over the old bridge on our way home from your committal service at the cemetery,” Martha answered. “The bridge suddenly gave out and we plunged into the river sixty feet below,” added his son. “The next thing we knew is that here we are in heaven,” dad. “It was instantaneous.” “We’ve been waiting for you,” said Martha. “Let’s show dad around a bit,” said the boy. “We still have some time before Jesus told us to bring him into His presence,” added Claude, while the beaming angel took it all in.”

Meanwhile, at the exact same moment and unbeknownst to Charlie, a different scene was taking place back on earth involving these same folks together with the old Bible teacher, and Charlie’s sons best friend Rick.” That brings us up to this morning where we hear a confused man ask: “Where are they?” “I beg your pardon, Charlie. Where are who?” “You gotta be kidding me, Pal. Martha and my kid and my brother Claude and his shrink, that’s who. I saw them a couple of seconds ago. They were going to show me around Heaven before they brought me to see Jesus. And now they’re gone and here I am all alone with you.” “Please excuse me for a moment Charlie while I investigate this rather peculiar occurrence.” “Hurry up, Pal. I don’t want to wait forever.”

“It was just as I suspected, Charlie. Do you recall those flash-backs you experienced?” “Of course I do. They were what finally woke me up and brought me to my senses about how rotten a guy I was before I died and wound up here with you in eternity someplace waiting to get let into Heaven.” “Those flashbacks were intended to elicit a response such as yours and they always have with other people. But,…” “What are you trying to say? Get to the point and show me some empadey, will ya, Pal.” “Do you mean empathy, Charlie?” That’s what I just said, empadey.” “Very well, Charlie. As I was saying before I was interrupted; those flashbacks were intended to elicit a response such as yours, but after the final flashback, the angles assigned to protect our rear flank became distracted and let their guard down just long enough for those cosmic demonic forces of darkness to somehow manage to add another flashback of their own devising. I’m certain it seemed genuine to you, Charlie, but I assure you it wasn’t.” “Are you telling me that they kind of short-circuited God’s real flashbacks?” “As a matter of fact they did, Charlie.” “I never woulda guessed. Those slimy bums did that to me?” “Indeed they did, Charlie. But I have marvelous news for you. Would you like me to explain it?” “Would I like you to explain it? Do I look like some kind of crazy nut case? I can’t believe I’m hearing all this. How many times do I have to tell you, you ain’t right, Pal, you ain’t right? Got it?”

The angel ignored Charlie’s ranting and raving and said: “I have received authorization to take you back to earth where you and I will be able to observe your loved ones. As we speak, they are participating in one of those Saturday morning back yard bible studies you took such pleasure in when you were alive and living there.” “Wow! I can’t wait to tell them all the good stuff I learned.” “I’m sorry to inform you but you won’t, Charlie.” “I won’t? How come?” “They won’t be able to see or hear us.” “You mean I’ll be just like one of you invisible angel guys?” “I should say not, Charlie.” “Good! I don’t wanna be like one them. No offense, Pal.” “However, you and I will be able to converse with each other.” Watta we waiting for?”

Charlie and the angel were immediately present at the Bible study and Charlie was shocked by what he saw and heard. After taking it all in, he asked the angel if he was in one of those phony flashbacks things again. The angel assured him he wasn’t. Charlie scratched his head and blurted out with a, “Martha got older, Pal. So did my brother Claude. And my kid, I can’t believe what I’m seeing and hearing. My kid’s been attending one of those seminary places. And he got whiskers on his chin. Yuk! All of this can’t be real.” “I assure you it is, Charlie.” “But I only died a little while ago. If what I’m seeing is real it has to be a few years later. I must be back in that Alzheimer’s mode and I lost my marbles all over again!” “Of course not, Charlie! To borrow one of your favorite expressions, you’re as ‘sharp as a tack.’” “But how come they got older? How do you explain all that, Pal?” “I must say that’s a frequently asked question Charlie, and the answer is quite simple. You and I can continue our conversation if you wish, but then we’ll be unable to observe everything that’s transpiring at the study. Please remember we’re only going to be here for an hour. And time is running out” “All right, I’ll shut up for a while, but I ain’t gonna let you off the hook so fast, Pal. I wanna know how everybody got older.” “Please be assured I’m aware of your wishes, Charlie.”

Now, we’re at the point in my January story where Marvin in the case he made against the God of Christianity has just finished quoting a few accounts of the prevalence of evil in our world and the horrors of natural disasters which God allows. Marvin continued: “There is so much more I could say concerning God and the problem of evil but it’s unnecessary. “Even if the day came when he revealed to me a morally justifiable explanation for allowing such suffering and evil; I would still hate him and want nothing to do with Him or His fiendish love. There is no possible explanation which could convince me to change my mind concerning the Christian god. None whatsoever!” The teacher went on to pose several hypothetical questions and concluded with this one: “What if when they enter into eternity He finally reveals to every human being that all the evil and suffering they each endured while they were alive and living on earth actually took place in ‘a dream which had been lovingly produced and directed by HIM? What if this was true, my friend?”

My story ended at that point in January and now we’ll continue it this morning. Everyone was back at the study and once again the invisible Charlie and the angel are taking everything in. After a few minutes of the group sharing their praises and prayer concerns, the teacher asked if there was something anyone would like to bring up for discussion. Marvin accepted the invitation and said: “If no one objects, may I say a few words, teacher?” Of course, you may, Marvin.” “Thank you. I’ve been thinking about those ‘what if’s’ you posed last week. I must say I found your hypothesis quite intriguing. As I contemplate the vastness and complexity of the universe, not to mention the human body and mind, I know there has to be a mysterious architect. Such a being and its ways are beyond human comprehension. A being such as me that has been created can’t possibly have the intellectual capacity to do so, much less arrogantly attempt to judge his or her creator. That being so, I concede it’s entirely possible that your theory of life being a dream which is actually a supernatural womb through which a creator develops and achieves a designed result.” “Now I’m going crazy again, Pal. The teacher believes my whole life that I’m still living is all taking place in a dream.” “Please be quiet, Charlie.” “I just wanted to give you something to think about, Marvin and I’m pleased that you did. The idea of life being a dream is nonsense.” “Boy am I glad to hear that, Pal.” “Please be quiet and listen, Charlie.” May I ask why, teacher?” “Of course you may, Marvin. However, judging from the expression on your face when you arrived here today, I think you have something else on your mind which you are eager to share with us. Am I correct?” “As a matter of fact you are, teacher. I’ve been reading the Bible and have concluded there are only two possibilities.” What are they, Marvin?” “Either the Bible is full of massive contradictions or else the Christian God is indeed an evil fiend as I suggested last week. Nothing else is possible, teacher.” “What’s this idiot doing here, Pal? The guys as wacky as all those other shrinks are. I’m sorry I footed the bill for Claude to go see him with his self-esteem issues. He’s gonna make my whole family crazy nuts just like he is. And what kind of a Bible study is this anyways? We’ve been here all this time and I ain’t even heard a single sentence from the Bible. Why’s the teacher letting him get away with all this wacko stuff?” “I must say I have confidence in this teacher, Charlie and I suggest that you try to be patient and listen. Unless I’m very mistaken, we’re about to hear a lot of Scripture.” “Yeah right!”

“I’m interested in hearing what you discovered in the Bible that has convinced you God is an evil fiend this time, Marvin.” “He’s a fiend only if the Bible is true, teacher.” “Please elaborate.” “Thank you. It’s my understanding that in many Christian Churches it’s customary to publically read certain passages of the Scriptures at the Sunday service.” “That’s true,” said Charlie’s son. I’m going to read excerpts of Psalms 98:1-2; 100:1-2; 100:1-2 and Psalm 101:1 at our church tomorrow. “May I ask the group a couple of questions, teacher?” “Of course you may, Marvin.” “Thank you. I assume those particular passages are rather typical of the readings at church services?” “They sure are at the evangelical church that I’ve been attending ever since I was a little five year old girl. I have every one of them memorized, answered the boy’s proud mother.” “Same for me,” said Claude. “Make that three,” Charlie chimed in. “They can’t hear you, Charlie,” the angel reminded him. “I know but I’m still part of that family, in case you forgot, Pal.” “May I quote some passages, teacher? “Please do.” “Very well:

¹ O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, ² for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. ³ With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. ⁴ In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. ⁵ They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship. ⁶ Appoint an evil man to oppose him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. ⁷ When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him. ⁸ May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. ⁹ May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. ¹⁰ May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes. ¹¹ May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. ¹² May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children. ¹³ May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation. ¹⁴ May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out. ¹⁵ May their sins always remain before the Lord, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.  Psalm 109:1-15 (NIV)

⁸ O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us– ⁹ he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. Psalm 137:1-9 (NIV)

How frequently have you people heard passages such as these and similar ones used at church services?” Marvin’s question was followed by total silence until the teacher asked if anyone was able to recall the last time they heard these kinds of passages quoted during a worship service. One by one the each acknowledged they couldn’t. As a matter of fact, they weren’t aware of any preacher who even mentioned them. “That’s exactly what I suspected. Now read these passages:

¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, Proverbs 24:17 (NIV)

Proverbs 25:21 (NIV)
²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
⁴⁴ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:35 (NIV)
³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Allow me to proceed with the following questions. How do you respond whenever a person such as me asks you to explain these and similar Bible passages which are seething with hatred and vengeance in one place and contradictory elsewhere, especially since “all scripture is supposed to be God breathed? “I’m sorry Marvin, but we have to respect everyone’s tight schedules.” “Very well, I plan to return next week. Thank you for being so courteous teacher.” “You’re most welcome. Marvin.”

The study ends and Charlie and the Angel are back again in eternity. “Boy that guys some piece of work, Pal. I can’t believe the teacher is putting up with that Dr. Cuckoo. And you,” said the obviously agitated man; I ain’t gonna let you off the hook, Pal. I wanna know come everybody got so older.” “Certainly, Charlie. Just employ your Instant Scripture Recall (ICR) which as you know, everyone in eternity possesses and go to:

2 Peter 3:8 (TLB)
⁸ But don’t forget this, dear friends, that a day or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord.

“You and I are living in the everlasting present just as our God is, and your loved ones back on earth are still living in time.” “You mean a day in God’s eyes is like a thousand years in the eyes of people living back on earth. In my own case here in eternity, it seems like only yesterday that I left there but to people who are still living IN TIME on earth it actually is years.”  “That’s correct, Charlie. As I mentioned in the January 10^th study when I referenced the previous May 31^st one “You and I are living in the everlasting present.” “I never wodda thunk! What’s next? The latest Angelic Intelligence Data (AID) indicates that next week (their time) the group is going to be led into THE VALLEY OF BLESSINGS AND CURSES.

Lord willing, next week….