Don't Sink To The Bottom With The World

1st John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) said something profound that I really like. He said:

“Christians should live in the world, but not be filled with it. A ship lives in the water, but if the water gets in the ship, she goes to the bottom. So Christians may live in the world, but if the world gets into them, they sink.”

What a great illustration! Dear reader, the world is not your friend. The world will never meet you half way on anything. What exactly is “the world”?

Here is an excellent quote from Pastor E.M. Bounds (1835-1913):

'The world' includes the mass of humanity that is alienated from God and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ. It involves worldly affairs, earthly things, riches, pleasures, and pursuits that are shallow, frail, and fleeting. These things stir desire, draw us away from God, and are obstacles to the cause of Christ. The divorced or torn relationships between Heaven and earth, between God and His creatures, finds its expression in the term 'the world.'” —Pastor Edward M. Bounds, a quote from chapter 7 - 'Overcoming The Enemy Of God,' from the classic book titled: “GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE”

In 2026, the world is as strange and wicked as ever. ...

10 Celebrities Who Sold Their Soul to Satan
(Billie Eilish, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding)

The world has always been a wicked place alienated from God. Read what the Apostle John wrote nearly 2,000 years ago. 1st John 5:19, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” There is nothing new under the sun.

Last year a local Baptist pastor and his wife, at the Family Baptist Church in Pensacola, got upset toward me over my website ministry. It was over this article in particular titled, 'Why A Christian Lady Ought Not Wear Pants.' You see, the pastor's wife and mother wear sexy pants in public. Although I never told them about my website ministry, people are nosy creatures and have a habit of finding things. And boy do they love to gossip!

The pastor insisted that his wife loves Jesus as much as anyone. The Bible says different...

1st John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Believers who love the world do not have a close walk with God. What saith the Scripture?

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

Tragically, a fundamentalist Bible preacher taking a stand against women wearing pants today is viewed as being ridiculous, out of touch and ancient in his beliefs. But dear reader, God hasn't changed! God's prohibition for women to wear clothing which pertained to a man in Deuteronomy 22:5 has not changed. Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) explains why Deuteronomy 22:5 still applies today; not mere ceremonial law as some foolishly claim, it is moral law.

Dwight L. Moody was absolutely right. A ship was intended to be in the water, just as God intended for us as believers to live in the world. John 17:15, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” But if water gets into the ship, it will sink thousands of feet to the bottom of the ocean. Likewise, if we let the world into our lives, we risk sinking to the bottom of life. This is what has happened to millions of Christians today, who are languishing in misery, depression and confusion.

The inspired Word of God in Romans 12:2b says to ”be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This is only possible by abiding in the Scripture, listening to solid Bible preaching, avoiding the counsel of the ungodly, and taking advice from godly friends and influences.

Millions of hurting Christians today hang around worldly friends. They listen to negative daily news on TV. They watch worldly movies. They listen to worldly music, which includes worldly Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). They are surrounded by negative family members. They don't live in the Holy Bible. They refuse to listen to fundamentalist Bible preaching by soulwinning men of God. They have dug their own grave and are wallowing in it in misery.

I humbly advise broken saints who are in the doldrums of life to get into the inspired King James Bible. Start listening to pastors' Jack Hyles, Curtis Hutson, Lester Roloff and other true soulwinning men of God. I have little use for the vast majority of today's spiritually dead, bad and corrupt clergy. Dear friend, don't sink to the bottom with this insane world today. Don't let the world in. Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982) delivered a beautiful sermon called, 'Don't Get Adjusted,' which I recommend you listen to.

I am reminded of a popular Christian song popularized by Jim Reeves in 1962, “This World Is Not My Home.”

I think of these beautiful Christian lyrics oftentimes...

This world is not my home

I'm just a'passing through

My treasures are laid up

Somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me

From heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home

In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Always Keep Your Word

Proverbs 19:22, “The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.”

The longing (or delight) of the human heart man is to have mercy on others, to help people; but if he has to lie, make shady deals and commit evil to do so in order to raise the money, he'd be better off just being poor.

I think a perfect example of this Bible verse is New York City's incompetent mayor Zohran Mamdani. In the fall of 2025 he ran for the position of mayor in New York City, making a bunch of empty promises that any sensible person knew he couldn't possibly fulfill. Mamdani promised free child daycare for all New Yorker parents. Mamdani promised a price freeze on all rental units. Mamdani promised free subway transportation for everyone from now on. He essentially gave away the farm! His plan was to tax the rich and the public ate it up, loving his rhetoric. Well, when Mamdani won the election by a landslide and became mayor, the state's governor refused to go along with taxing the rich, and his plan backfired on him. Proverbs 19:22, “The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.”

To save face and come up with all that 'FREE' stuff that Mamdani promised to give away, he decided to tax the middle-class instead, by raising everyone's property taxes another 9.5% on top of some of the already highest property taxes in the country! Overburdened New York homeowners will now be taxed 19.84% a year!!! That is so criminal! Mamdani should be in prison for lying to get into office, knowing that there was no way he could honor his promises. Proverbs 19:22, “The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.”

I think Mr. Mamdani had good intentions as a young man, and a horrible socialist one I might add...

“Socialism is nothing more than shared misery.” —Winston Churchill

Pastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951) explains Proverbs 19:22 this way...

A kindly, benevolent spirit appeals to all men because it is unselfish and thoughtful of others. But to make great promises while unable to fulfill them is reprehensible. It is far better to be poor and frankly admit one’s inability to do what the heart might desire, than to promise largely and be proven untrustworthy. To be what you are, and not to pretend to be what you are not, is a sound principle. An honest person, even if poor, gains the respect of anyone whose good opinion is worth having. See Peter and the lame man (Acts 3:6). SOURCE

Zohran Mamdani should have told the truth last year when running for mayor, and been upfront and honest with the people of New York. He's a sharp looking fella with a likable personality. I am confident that the citizens of New York would have still voted for him had he simply said they would all work together to find workable solutions, but his plan to tax the rich was doomed to fail from the start. A responsible leader understands that when you're in financial debt as a city, the only reasonable thing to do is cut spending. Sure, a lot of people are going to be angry and upset, but there is no other way. We've become so spoiled rotten in the United States that Americans refuse to do without anymore. Well, tough, that's life!

I love the old adage that was common during The Great Depression of the 1930s...

Use it up,
wear it out;
make it do,
do without

Yes Sir! That's the winning ticket! When you and I don't have the money, we do without. So why should the government have it any different? It's not the government's job to provide free daycare for children. It's not the city's job to provide free train rides. They need to put the petty thieves who don't pay their train fare in work camps; not prison, productive work camps! We are literally destroying ourselves with our freedom! No one should have a “right” to steal, shoot up on illegal drugs, hurt people, loiter in a tent on a sidewalk, or become a nuisance to society. Our reckless federal government has deliberately created this problem by allowing the fraudulent Federal Reserve to bankrupt our nation and run inflation into the stratosphere!

Avoid Making Promises To People

Dear reader, there is nothing worse than a liar. In fact, one of the seven things that God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19 is “a lying tongue.” Proverbs 26:28, “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” Some people are habitual chronic liars. There are too many things that can go wrong. It is wise to refrain from making many promises to people. Granted, the marriage vows should be made at the wedding altar, and then honored for a lifetime. I am talking about the frivolous promises that we flippantly make to people day by day, which people so often fail to keep. I refuse to do that to anyone. Promises are important. And if you say you are going to do something, that becomes a promise!

I recently called Quality Roofing Solutions in Pensacola and spoke to one of their managers James Deere about repairs needed to my roof after hurricane Isaias. I was referred to him by Gulf Coast Home Inspections. I also asked James questions about adequate ventilation needs in my attic. He promised to email me some ventilation calculations which he said he'd obtain from Google satellite. He also promised to stop by my home that week to inspect my roof and needed repairs, included damaged vinyl soffits and fascia. But weeks later I never heard back from him.

So, I called James back but he refused to answer his phone. I sent him a text message and again gave him my address and email, kindly asking him to please keep his promises, but he just ignored me. It is bizarre, considering that we never had any cross words when I spoke with him. He mentioned to me that he is a Christian and attends a Baptist Church up on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. Sadly, the guy is a liar! It's worldly abusive believers like him, if he is saved at all, why people have stopped going to church. There's a likely chance that his church is wrong on the Gospel. Professed Christians are often worse than the heathen world. The old adage is still very true that: A man is only as good as his word.

If you tell somebody that you are going to do something, you're integrity is at stake. Matthew 5:34, “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” When people would intentionally lie in Bible times, they knew it was wrong to swear by God's name, so to lessen the severity of their broken oath (at least in their own warped mind) they would swear by the earth instead. But the Scripture warns that a promise is a promise, regardless who or what you swear by, so it's best to just not make them.

During World War II, every teenage male in the United States was itching to join the cause for going to war to fight the evils of communism. But many of them were unqualified because they were under the age of 18. So, what they would do is write the number “18” on the bottom of their shoe, so they could honestly tell the recruitment officer, “I am over 18.” That is dishonest. When the truth must be hidden, something is very wrong. That is deception.

I rarely make promises to anyone, especially to God. A broken promise is a serious infraction. Jesus warned in Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Words are a powerful thing, for which words God (who is the keeper of our soul according to Proverbs 24:12) will hold us all accountable.

When Katie Stubblefield was a beautiful teenage girl in high school, it was another mean girl's hurtful words at school that caused Katie to go home and attempt suicide with her brother's shotgun. Instead, Katie blew her face office and is now maimed for the rest of her miserable life. The other girl (a spoiled brat) who caused Katie's dilemma went on to live a normal life. Teenagers are in no man's land so-to-speak. They are old enough to interact with the world around them, inflict great damage; but yet are not mature enough in their mental capacity to process their feelings, painful emotions, hormones and disappointments. The teenage years are a dangerous time for young people, and their parents need to be involved with their lives.

My heart goes out to Katie. Her father said she is a determined girl, passionate and hard working. It was those qualities which compelled Katie to attempt to take her own life. I can relate to her because I am the same way, hence my website ministry and my passionate writings. I get my feelings hurt all the time, because I am a sensitive man and many people are insensitive, unkind and mean.

One of the reasons why I don't like talking to people over the phone, or in live conversations, is because I am vulnerable. I just don't think fast enough. I need time to process everything. Due to that delay, and my sweet nature to avoid being unkind or offensive in any way, I keep it all in and stay quiet, usually later regretting the conversation. I am unable to speak up since my brain needs time to process what has been said. And if I do speak up without having had time to think about the matter, I usually regret that too. That is why I love my website ministry, because I have plenty of time to reflect upon my thoughts before publishing them.

As a rule, when I talk to people in live conversations I don't commit myself. I simply don't make promises. All my life I have prefaced my words with the phrase, “No promises!” And after I say that I usually keep my agreement that very same day. There is nothing more important for a man than that he honor his commitments, and fulfill that which he has committed to do. 2nd Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

That is why we read in Psalms 138:2, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” God honors His Words. The psalmist declares that God has magnified (elevated) His inspired Words above His own name. The reason why is obvious because God's character is only as trustworthy, sound and reliable as His Words. That's why I make such a big fuss over the hundreds of corrupted perversions of the Holy Bible in the English language today, which obscure God's simple plan of salvation and confuse everyone. God only wrote one Book!

Our word means something, let's be careful about making idle promises. There's nothing wrong with telling someone that you'll do your best, but you're not making any promises.

Pastor Jack Hyles Was Impatient Toward People At Times

Several weeks ago I was listening to a life changing 1982 sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles titled, “Imperfect People In Heaven,” in which sermon he teaches that we should continue the work of the saints now in Heaven.

Now, I truly love brother Hyles, but he annoys me at times. At 17:48 time in the sermon he yells at a fella for leaving the pew while he's preaching. The man probably needed to use the restroom. You can't mistreat people like that. Dr. Hyles had a bad habit of doing this to people. A few moments later in the sermon he scolds someone else for falling asleep, accusing him of not loving the truth.

Dear reader, I am different than most preachers. Just because I love Brother Hyles doesn't mean I'll look the other way and remain quiet when I think he is wrong. I speak up! Most people are partial toward their friends, family and supporters, but if the shoe fits wear it!

I used to work a full time job afternoons as a truck mechanic to support a wife and kids. I went to Bible college during the daytime. I went soulwinning and on church visitation for most of the day every Saturday. And I voluntarily drove a church bus for the Lord 200 miles every Sunday. I fell asleep in church on Sunday evenings on a regular basis right in front of Pastor Hyles.

One night in church I went down so hard that I banged my forehead on the wooden back of the pew in front of me, and everybody heard it, and all the hundred and some odd choir members saw it. I was so drained and tired. I eventually decided every week to sit in the overflow room, separate from the main auditorium, with the mothers holding their crying babies and late-comers rather than distract Dr. Hyles because I couldn't stay awake. But, I LOVED THE TRUTH! It would be very cruel for anyone to say to me, “You'd stay awake if you really loved the truth!” No Sir, that is simply not true.

I fell asleep while driving one night on the Dan Ryan Expressway, on the way home from work in Chicago. My vehicle crashed into the concrete wall. A semi-truck driver stopped and asked if I was okay, and by God's grace I was. Was it because I didn't love life that I fell asleep? Of course not, I was just plain ole tired. By the time I graduated from Hyles-Anderson College in 1993, I was absolutely burned out from burning the candle at both ends for the previous 8 years to earn my degree in Pastoral Theology, signed by Pastor Jack Hyles.

That being said, I have a tremendous amount of love, admiration and respect for Brother Hyles. He wasn't a perfect person, and neither are we. I can only hope and strive by God's grace to have as many good qualities as did Dr. Hyles. He was truly a beautiful man! Jack Hyles never had a godly father to raise him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, but thankfully he did have a godly mother who taught him well. Praise God!

God used Pastor Hyles to help millions of people, both directly and indirectly. I didn't write this article to tear down Brother Hyles, God forbid; but rather, I wrote this article to teach my readers that it matters how we treat people. I heard Dr. Hyles admit that at times he mistreated others, and so have you and I. We are all guilty at times of dropping the ball of kindness. All God expects of any of us is that we do better today than we did yesterday.

Why Does The Devil Attack Us When We Are Tired?

Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

One of my ministry followers (for whom I am grateful) asked me a question today:

I always wondered why is it that when I am fatigued, tired, sleep-deprived, or whatnot, I tend to have much worse thinking and decision-making capabilities and tend to be much more prone to wrongful ways of thinking? 

As a saved man, I find it much easier to live for God and to study His word and think rightly when I am feeling well and am full of energy, and I tend to be much less prone to sinful thoughts or ideas, whereas when I am fatigued, I think thoughts that never even cross my mind when I am well-rested. 

Why is it that the devil tends to attack us when we are extremely fatigued/tired?

Here is my biblical answer:

Kindly, I think we give the Devil too much credit. The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 that the human heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” When we are tired, depressed, afflicted by illness, stressed or overworked, we are more vulnerable to our own frailties, mood swings and weaknesses.

Romans 7:24-25, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

You and I will likely never meet the Devil. He can only be in one place at a time, unlike God who is omnipresent. Revelation 2:13a, “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is...” Although Jesus was speaking here to the church at Pergamos, I believe the Bible indicates that Satan to some degree influences religion. We know from Job 1:7b that Satan moves “to and fro in the earth.” My father would have called that, “bumming around.” 

Satan is aimless, a bum, who "walketh about" the Bible says in 1st Peter 5:8, seeking someone to devour (Greek: “to make disappear”). Satan wants to make God's children disappear from serving Christ; if he can discourage us to quit, or ruin our public testimony and consequently our effectiveness for Christ. Jesus said that “the thief” (clearly the Devil) comes ONLY to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). The Devil's only will for anyone's life is to prevent us from doing God's will.

As I mentioned, I think we give the Devil too much credit. Humans don't need a demon to inspire us to commit unimaginable evils. The human heart is toxic! 

But if the Devil or his demonic spirit minions were to attack us, they'd look for weakness to exploit, just like dirty thieves and other evil criminals of opportunity. 1st Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” The old adage is true: “An idle mind is the Devil's workshop.” Satan and his minions look for weakness to exploit. They look for a way to sneak false doctrine into a local church. Nothing spiritually hampers a church or Bible college as much as having a carnal uncaring leader who drops the ball. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Satan is our enemy. The world is our enemy. The flesh is our enemy. Of those three, the flesh is the worst, since it is our most formidable enemy that is with us 365 days a year. We are our own worst enemy, not the Devil.

Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

Romans 7:25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” 

Speaking of the Devil we read in 1st Peter 5:9-10, “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.​" We are already on the winning side through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Although it is possible, it is very unlikely if we will ever encounter Satan in our life. There's a much greater likelihood that we will encounter an evil person influenced or possessed by a demon. But guaranteed, we all have to contend with the selfish human flesh which is corrupt, and the toxic tongue that cannot be tamed because it reveals the desperately wicked heart (Matthew 15:19). Luke 6:45b, “...for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

I've said all that to say this—I do not believe it is the Devil attacking us when we are fatigued, tired, sleep-deprived, whatnot. It is our own flesh (which is what the word “carnal” means). The wicked human heart is fully capable of ruining one's day without the need for a demon to help out. This biblical truth applies to both saved and unsaved people, but the child of God has the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us.

The inspired Holy Bible teaches in Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

Satan works in the soul of unbelievers. The Devil is their spiritual father (John 8:44). We clearly see the Satanic influence at work in his children. Never before have we seen the obvious war between good and evil as we do today in the United States. We truly are one nation, divided!

All of my life I have heard Christians attribute the troubles, losses, headaches and obstacles in their life to the Devil persecuting them. But it was God, not the Devil, who allowed Job to be horrified, traumatized and broken into the dust. It was God who intentionally led the Jews from bondage in Egypt into a different form of bondage in the Wilderness for 40 years. What saith the Scripture?

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”

So, be careful about giving the Devil credit for what God may be doing in your life to test you, or giving Satan credit for the normal struggles of the flesh. I humbly think too many Christians are superstitious.

We are our own worst enemy, not the Devil

Our Critique Infested Society

James 3:5-8, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

In Pastor Jack Hyles' helpful book titled, “How to Treat Different Types of Church Members,” in chapter 13, he makes these very truthful statements about our broken American culture:

7. Do not live in unplanned situations. Idle time is one of the great causes for unnecessary and unwise reaction. Just sitting around and talking with nothing planned leads to differences, arguments, fusses and reactionary conversation.

One of the great problems of our society is that it is built on critique. It is falsely assumed by many that the ability to critique someone is a sign of strength. Nothing could be farther from the truth! To attack the strong is not a sign of strength. To do nothing but critique those who do something is certainly not a sign of strength. 

The time was, for example, when the local sports writer was a cheerleader for the local team. He has now become the Devil's advocate and is considered somewhat of a successful sports writer if he can criticize the coach. 

Men who have never carried a football, thrown a pass, kicked a field goal or made a tackle seem to know more about coaching than men who have coached for a lifetime. The pew critiques the pulpit. The student critiques the teacher, and the press critiques everybody! 

One can hardly listen to a radio station without finding movie critics, restaurant critics and a bevy of other self-styled experts whose only talent is criticizing talent, whose only strength is criticizing strength, whose only accomplishment is shooting at those who have accomplished.

God, give us men who act, not men who react! Give us men with the character to determine their behavior and who decide their own course of action!

Dr. Hyles is so right! We live in a reactionary society. We live in a critical society in the United States. Everybody's a critic. The mainstream newsmedia is largely to blame. Most people are familiar with the ongoing Lindsay Clancy saga. Of the 12 jurors in Duxbury, Massachusetts, one held out, voting guilty, which offended everyone, including the judge. The media are so rotten that they dug into the court files and told the world that the man was charged with abusing his girlfriend several years ago (but the charges were dismissed).

But there's more, the rotten media made sure to slander him further by telling the world that he is presently being evicted for not paying his rent. They are assassinating his character in a malicious attempt to discredit him as a juror, because he thinks Lindsay Clancy is guilty, as I also do. I dread the corrupt dung-spreading mainstream newsmedia.

Giant Cross Falls And Kills Catholic Priest In Ecuador

Luke 13:1-3, “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

I saw a shocking video in the news in Ecuador of a giant cross landing on a priest's head, killing him. So sad and tragic. Although some Christians might consider this poetic justice in view of the fact that Roman Catholicism is sending multitudes of sinners to Hell forever with false religion, this was a terrible accident, nothing more.

This is exactly what Jesus is saying in our text passage from Luke 13:1-3. Some people had told Jesus about recent deaths in their local town. The Lord asked them if they foolishly considered those victims as being worst sinners than themselves. Clearly they were not. Likewise, it would be foolish to think that God was somehow punishing the priest who died when a giant cross fell upon him. Dear reader, you and I are just as vulnerable to accidents.

When I lived on Guam, a big branch fell from a tree during a parade and killed a woman. Freak accidents happen all the time. I am not a superstitious believer. I think sometimes things just happen. The Scripture tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:11b that “time and chance happeneth to them all.” So, there is such a thing as “luck.” I also believe that everything happens for a reason. Someone didn't secure the cross properly. I am often reminded of something very true that Pastor Jack Hyles said, "The most important job is the one that doesn't get done," which in this case cost a man his precious life.

No one despises the demonic Roman Catholic religion as much as I do, but that priest was still a man created in the image of God, whom the Lord loves dearly and died for on Calvary's cross. This accident is so tragic. Ezekiel 18:32, “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” God never rejoices when a wicked person dies, and neither should one. There are some Baptist pastors today who are guilty of preaching Satan's lie of Lordship Salvation whom I would love to see a giant cross smash their head to silence them, but I would never wish evil upon anyone.

Whoever mounted that cross to the rear wall failed to do a quality job, and someone else paid for it with their life. Certainly the mounting hardware could have failed, or the wall weakened, et cetera, but a safety cable should have been attached to the cross in case it came loose. That is common sense. In my lifetime I have seen that most accidents which result in someone's permanent injury or death are caused by another person's carelessness.

My heart goes out to that killed priest and his loved ones in Ecuador. Let us all take to heart Jesus' stern warning in Luke 13:2b-3, “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” That wicked priest preaching a counterfeit plan of salvation was no more sinful than you or I. We are all wretched sinners in God's sight.

Jesus warned, using “repent” as an euphuism for salvation, that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3b). That is exactly what Jesus is teaching in Luke 13:1-3. Even though some people do much more evil things than others, even one sin is enough to keep you out of Heaven and condemn you to Hell forever (James 2:10). That is why Jesus warned “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Unless you change your mind to believe the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus' death on the cross, burial and resurrection) you will perish in your sins and spend eternity burning in Hell.

The Tragic Life Of Margot Kidder

Psalms 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

Margaret Ruth Kidder (1948-2018) was a Canadian-American actress and activist. She amassed several film and television credits in her career spanning five decades, including her widely known role as Lois Lane in the original Superman films (1978–1987). Her accolades included two Canadian Film Awards, an Emmy Award, a Genie Award, and a Saturn Award.

Sadly, Miss Kidder was an avowed atheist her entire life. Dear reader, it literally requires more faith to be an atheist than a Christian...

On page 139 of his book, “GOD IN HISTORY and GOD IN SCIENCE,” Pastor John Cumming (1807-1881) makes a brilliant observation concerning professed atheists:

Atheism is folly as much as wickedness. But suffer me, before I show this, to say, that it is absolutely impossible that any man can be an atheist, in the strict sense of that word. All that any can say is this: “No spot that I have searched does reveal a God; every organization I have examined does not show traces of wisdom, goodness, and design:” but that individual cannot say; “There is no God;” because he cannot say, “I have soared to the farthest star, I have descended to the deepest mines, I have swept all space, and searched all time, and in the realms of infinite space I have not detected any traces of a God.” In other words, to be able to say, “There is no God,” you must yourself assume to be God, which is a reductio ad absurdum, an utter and a complete absurdity.

SOURCE: “GOD IN HISTORY and GOD IN SCIENCE,” p. 139; by Rev. John Cumming, D.D.; New York: Published by Carlton & Lanahan; 200 Mulberry-Street; 1868

What a brilliant observation. How can any man claim to be an atheist unless he has traveled to the farthest place in the universe? The nearest star to the earth (after our own sun) is Alpha Centauri, which is 4.25 light-years away (about 25,000,000,000,000 miles away!). This is just one star, being the closest to earth besides our own sun which is 93,000,000,000 miles away.

My friend, the James Webb Telescope launched by NASA in 2021 on Christmas Day has already discovered more stars than humanity ever thought possible! Whereas the Hubble Space Telescope launched by NASA in 1990 had discovered 200,000,000,000 stars in the observable universe, the new improved James Webb Telescope has so far found 2,000,000,000,000 galaxies! That's TWO TRILLION GALAXIES! Not stars, galaxies!!!

Tragically, Margot Kidder struggled her entire life with depression. I read that at 14 she attempted suicide with drugs. She admitted to experiencing manic episodes and dealing with mental health issues. My heart goes out to her. Many people struggle with depression, feelings of sadness and difficulties coping with life. At age 69 she commit suicide with alcohol and drugs in Montana where she lived.

I cannot help but wonder if Margot had repented to believe in God and trust Jesus as her personal Savior, if her life would have been better. I sure think so. What saith the Scripture? John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” To find peace the world often abuses drugs and booze, but a believer can find refuge in the promises of God in the Scripture. Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” I cannot even imagine living this earthly life without faith in God and His only begotten Son. What a miserable and hopeless existence. What a travesty!

I just learned that last Wednesday on October 28th, famous and beloved actor Patrick Stewart (1940-2026) died at age 86. Sadly, he was also an avowed atheist. Dear reader, the inspired Holy Bible tells us that there is no such thing as an atheist...

Romans 1:20-21, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened”

At some early point in life everyone knows that there is a God (cf., Psalm 19:1-3). Patrick Stewart was heavily involved with the LGBTQ+ crowd. As is often the case, people who claim to be atheist are guilty of living sordid immoral lives. What saith the Scripture? Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”

Margot Kidder and Patrick Stewart, to name but a couple of tens of thousands of famous atheists, chose not to believe in a Creator. Psalms 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” You don't have to convince me that God exists, I have eyes and ears and a working brain. Proof of God is everywhere! It requires far more faith not to believe in God.

The list keeps growing of celebrities who died from an overdose of drugs: Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Keith Moon, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, River Phoenix, Matthew Perry, Amy Winehouse, Elvis Presley, et cetera. There are literally thousands of names! This is the peace that the world gives. Satan is a beautiful liar!