Another View for May 11, 2006
By Philip K. Cooper
I especially love the promises in God's word that tell me that I will be protected from lies and deceit that will come in the last days. I Peter 2:6 says: “Wherefore it is also contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” That Cornerstone is Jesus Christ, and I believe on Him!
The latest on a long list of deceiving documents is called the “Gospel of Judas.” You may read an account of this document in the May 2006 issue of National Geographic. I have. And I am neither confounded nor deceived.
While the document may be real the story it contains is a lie. How can I be sure? Logic and experience! First some logic questions: Why would Judas, if Jesus told him to turn himself over to the authorities for treason, try to give back the money they paid him? If he was the so-called most beloved disciple of Christ, why would he go out and hang himself after the betrayal? Why would he kiss Jesus to identify him to those who wished him dead?
Now for experience: In 1952, when I was 20 years old, I entered a partnership with my brother Jerry in a taxi & limousine business in Albany, N.Y. It was a very hard business with extremely long hours and little rest. But I was young and healthy and the money was good.
Later Jerry came to me and offered me the opportunity to buy him out. We agreed on a price of $6,000 and I borrowed the money. We met at Jerry's apartment, and I gave him the cash. We shook hands and he kissed me. There was no document of sale. I trusted him and being young and naive didn't think I needed one.
Two weeks later a man, also in the taxi business, showed up with a legal document signed by him and Jerry that was a bill of sale for the business. My brother had sold even my interest out from under me. I was escorted out of the office and lost everything.
I went to lawyers but was told there was no hope because I had nothing in writing from Jerry. I went to my creditors and agreed to pay off everything I owed. It took me seven years working two and three jobs to do it, but I did.
What has this to do with Judas? First I was betrayed. Second, I suffered death, financially, losing everything I owned at the time. Thirdly, I was resurrected, financially, as I paid off and then was able to recover and go on with my life.
But what about Jerry? Twelve years later, Jerry, the husband of a wonderful wife, father of a beautiful daughter and grandfather of two, hung himself in his trailer in Hollywood, Florida.
I did not know until 17 years later, after I had trusted Jesus as my personal Savior and begun to study the Bible why my brother had hung himself. (Read Matt. 27:3-10)
Jerry, the Judas of my life, was wrought with the guilt of having betrayed his own brother.
My friends, be careful what you believe in these last days. “Even the elect will be deceived, if it were
possible.” (Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22) Study the Word of God to know the truth, Jesus Christ, and His truth in Scripture. Believe neither the “gospel of Judas” nor The DaVinci Code, about which I will write later.
My prayer for you: “May God in Christ Jesus by His Holy Spirit keep you, heart, mind and soul, from the lies of the devil that would confound and deceive in these last days. May you know Jesus as Savior and know His truth in Scripture.”
Philip K. Cooper is a Virginia Baptist and founder and president of Marathon Ministries in Castlewood, Va.