the final word
"It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the path of truth, just as we were commanded by the Father." —2 John 4
The rain in Noah's time resulted in a flood of massive destruction. The rain of fire and brimstone on Sodom also caused mass destruction. "It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed" (Lk 17:30). How can we escape the massive, instantaneous destruction that is to come? Those will be saved who believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31; 4:12). "But when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8)
"Faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rm 10:17, our transl.). If Christians accept God's call to share and receive His word, some will hear God, have faith, and be saved from destruction. Otherwise, God's people will "perish for want of knowledge" (Hos 4:6) of Jesus, because "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (St. Jerome).
The Lord has sent many messengers of His word into the world (see Mt 21:34-37). Satan has responded to these messengers by sending "many deceitful men...into the world, men who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. Such is the deceitful one! This is the Antichrist!" (2 Jn 7) God does not want anyone to be destroyed (Mt 18:14). Therefore, the Lord is now sending forth more messengers of His word to open the ears and build the life-saving faith of His people. The Lord asks: "Whom shall I send?" (Is 6:8) Answer: "Send me!" (Is 6:8)
Prayer: Father, I will share Your word in good times and in bad (see 2 Tm 4:2). I will break new ground in spreading Your word.
Promise: "Anyone who is so 'progressive' that he does not remain rooted in the teaching of Christ does not possess God, while anyone who remains rooted in the teaching possesses both the Father and the Son." —2 Jn 9
Praise: Albert, an extremely gifted intellectual, served God prodigiously for many years with his mind. Finally, his mind failed, but Albert still served the Lord meekly and in humility until he died.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 2, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 1996