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Jesus Will Ride Back

¹ Cowboys, this is the second letter I've sent y'all. Both times I've aimed for getting you to see the truth of the right way to think and act. ² Don't forget what the old cowboys of God told us, as well as the commands of Jesus himself given by his twelve cowboys. ³ First off, there will come a day when people make fun of God in broad daylight and do nothing except worship their own lustful wants and needs. They'll laugh in your face for riding for Jesus ⁴ and will ask, "Where is this cowboy who said he would come and save you? I don't see him! Show him to us. All of our ancestors have died and nothing has changed since the world began."

⁵ They've heard the truth, but chosen to ignore it. With a word, God created all the heavens and earth. The land was brought up out of the water, ⁶ and it was this same water that God used to destroy the land in the great flood. ⁷ By the same word, God is now preserving the earth and heavens for the day they will all be destroyed, not by water again, but this time by fire. The current heaven and earth are waiting on the day when all godless people will be destroyed in the fire to come.

⁸ I think it's important for you to understand time isn't the same for us as it is for God. To him, a thousand years is like a day and a day is like a thousand years. One is the same as the other to him. ⁹ The Lord isn't slow-bucking his promises to us. He is being patient with all of us so that all who can be will be saved. He wants everyone to turn from their sins and ride for him. He's going to wait as long as he can because he doesn't want anyone to be destroyed. He's waiting for everyone to turn loose of their sins.

¹⁰ But the day of execution will come like a horse thief at night. When that day comes, the sky will collapse with a wail. Everything we can see in the sky will be destroyed in fire. Everything on earth will vanish in ash. ¹¹ Now that you know all of this, what kind of cowboy do you want to be? Ride with God in reverence and obedience. ¹² Those of us who ride for God eagerly await this time when everything will be consumed in fire. Everything except us. ¹³ We wait for God to come through on his word; he promised us a new heaven and a new earth where his cowboys will ride in stirrup-high green grass and sit beside crystal-clear waters forever.

¹⁴ Until this time comes, ride with your head held high and your back straight. Be pure and faultless in God's sight and be at peace by riding only for him. ¹⁵ This waiting we endure is not a punishment, but an opportunity to get better. Paul talked to you a lot about this through the wisdom that came from God, not himself. ¹⁶ He talks all about getting better and how to be saved. A lot of what he says can be misconstrued by the weak of heart and mind. These types of people take what Paul says and twist it to their own opinion, just like they do with the rest of the scriptures. This doesn't change the truth, it signs their death warrants.

¹⁷ But I know I'm just explaining cattle to cowboys. Y'all already know all of this. Keep an eye on the horizon so you will not be lured away by lawless vagabonds and lustful temptresses. Stay close to God and stick to the narrow trail and you'll be safe. ¹⁸ But don't use your sense of safety to stagnate. Use it to grow closer to Jesus and get to know him better and better. Make him your best pard and you'll be amazed by the outcome. God gets the glory, now and forever.