Dear friends,

It is commonly believed by more and more people -- possibly yourself -- that the Scriptures [the so-called "Holy Bible"] are nothing more than stories written hundreds of years ago by many men who were, obviously, very out of touch with the enlightenment of our advanced and modern age. Obviously they were not inspired by the Creator and rightful Judge of all, because, after all, the Holy One portrayed in the Scriptures is merely one of their "stories" -- true for "them" but not true for "us" -- "their" truth -- those dead people who were so ignorant and intolerant that in today's advanced world, and quite rightly, they would be marginal, almost irrelevant. Or so, at least, is the increasingly "politically correct" view. Or has "the devil, Satan, who leads the whole world astray" "put darkness for light" as the Scriptures say? Has "the Light Bringer" [Satan's other name] come and "illuminated" the world with his deceptive "wisdom" which is really folly?

One of those "stories" comes down to us from "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ" -- written by a former fisherman over 1900 years ago [or by some other liar, many centuries ago for sure, at least!]. Strangely enough, in his second letter he says: "in the last days scoffers will come ... they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed ...[and that] the world of that time was deluged and destroyed... [and that] the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:3, 5-7 NIV). "In the last days scoffers deliberately forget" -- he says, writing centuries ago -- the historical record of the Scriptures, how man was created and the great flood that destroyed the world that then was -- considering those records merely myths, stories of ignorant men. Even more so, he says, "in the last days scoffers deliberately forget" the warnings that the Creator is also Judge and intends to destroy all that is evil and create a new heaven and earth much better than this one, sullied as it is by deep dishonesty and sin. Modern scoffers prefer the opposing story of "Molecules to Man" fabricated "by science falsely so-called" (1 Timothy 6:20 KJV) according to "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope" -- or perhaps it was some other delusional maniac. For sure, he wrote many hundreds of years ago.

The big fisherman also says: "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1:16 NIV). So, it would seem, either a) Peter is a bold and hypocritical liar [intensely so, in the light of the rest of what he has to say!] or b) the victim of very serious delusion [gripping not only him but also many who were with him -- he only wrote a few pages of the Book!] or c) he is telling the real truth and knows what he is talking about!

Now, if Peter is a liar or a maniac -- as increasing numbers of moderns, most who have never read the "stories" they disparage, seem to believe, we have little to concern ourselves with besides living out our inherently meaningless lives as we see fit. But, if as an actual eyewitness to the power and majesty of our Creator, Redeemer and rightful Judge -- Peter is telling the real truth and knows whereof he speaks, because both he and the rest of those who wrote the "stories" of Scripture really did speak "from God as were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) -- then "what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God" -- the day of judgment and "a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness" -- "and speed its coming." (2 Peter 3:11, 13 NIV).

If you haven't read those "stories" -- perhaps you should! Judge for yourself and may that choice be an informed choice -- one that truly will serve you well! Best regards, Jeffrey A. Caldwell