In a month of biblical excitement, at least from the perspective of the world, another new manuscript has been discovered.

In a month of biblical excitement, at least from the perspective of the world, another new manuscript has been discovered. "The Gospel of Judas" is a Gnostic Gospel supposedly penned by Judas Iscariot. A news report about the manuscript may be found here.

I really do not doubt that the physical manuscript is an ancient writing. I doubt highly that Judas wrote it; rahter, it was mostly likely composed by a Gnostic believer during the late second or thrid century. The Gnostic followers believed they had secret or special information that others did not possess. As such they published several writings that attempted to reveal new information about Jesus.

The Gnostics as a group should be considered a cult. They believed in a dualistic approach to religion. The spiritual was good, the physical evil. As such their Jesus as a man was evil. It is only the spiritual Christ they considered to be good. Thus, they were pressed into a position whereby they had to prove how Jesus could be human and God. They accomplished this in a variety of ways, mostly by making use of a dual view of Jesus. There was the man who was physical and evil and the Holy Spirit who wrapped Himself around the man who was spiritual and good.

What I am more impressed by is the vast amount of interest, discoveries, books, and movies that either highlight or attack Jesus and Christianity. Almost every week brings a new discovery. For example this week we have both the missing link between fish and animals and now this new manuscript. Shortly the Da Vinci Code becomes a movie. All of this with Easter just over a week away.

I believe we are fast approaching the end times. Two Timothy chapter 3 speaks of an increase in false doctrines and teachings during the last days before the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation. I believe we are in this period. Now, this period may last 50-100 years or more, but I think we will experience more and more attacks, both direct like these three and indirect such as Harry Potter who places an emphasis upon the world of the witches  and the occult.

I can not help but wonder why all of this action? Yes, it fits with the biblical picture, but . . .

Did you ever think of it as a test? God wants to develop our Christian character. He wants us to become more like Christ. One method of accomplishing this is to see how we react to events like the discovery of missing links and ancient manuscripts. How do you read novels? Should you read novels? How do you choose which ones to read? How do you react to the false teachings found within their pages?

It is all a test. God wants to see your reactions. Everything in life has but two choices -- God's and Not God's. Which one do you make?

Jim A.