Study Desk

But with the time I have left in the saddle, I'll make sure you don't forget who you're supposed to be and what you're supposed to be doing.

Pretender prophets swindled people in the past and counterfeit cowboys will ride through your gates. They'll fill you full of lies and tell you things contrary to what the Boss said. They'll get what's coming to them in the end, but they can sure wreak havoc before that happens.

Lot lived there, but was rescued because he didn't like what was going on around him and didn't conduct his business in the same way those heathens did.

Lot as a good hombre, but it pained him every day to see that lawlessness around him.

God knows who is good among you and who is counterfeit. He will rescue his real cowboys from their trials, but he will hold the counterfeit in chains to await their day of sentencing.

This is especially true of those who travel down the trail of lust and shun God's authority in their lives.These counterfeit cowboys are bold and show-offs. They show no respect for the glorious creatures of heaven, but instead make fun of everything that is holy.

They yell loudly and make ignorant statements about anything and everything. They use their bodies to trap people in lust. They prey upon the weak of body and mind. I'm talking about those who are trying to get away from that kind of life, but continue to go back again and again to sin.

They promise freedom, but really offer slavery to sin and corruption. You are a slave to whatever controls you.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

So then, if we say we ride in his crew, but we ride in darkness, then we are counterfeits in word and deed.

But if we ride in the light, because he is the light, then we all belong to the same crew with one another. The blood of the Son unites and cleanses us all of our sins.

If we say we don't have any sin, then we are nothing but liars and no truth resides in us at all.

But if we admit our sins to God, he will do what he said he would and forgive us and pardon us of all wrongdoing.

The point of this letter is so you will turn loose of your sins. But just in case we fall off and do sin, we have someone who is pleading our case on our behalf before God. That man is Jesus Christ, the only perfect man to ever live—and he is on our side!

Jesus is the reason our sins can be forgiven. And it's not just our sins, but everyone's.