CHAT WITH GOD ON
(1) SUFFERING
(2) DEATH
(3) SEX
(4) MONEY
(5) HELL
(6) PORK 

(1) CHAT WITH GOD ON SUFFERING

God.
(I am here, my child.)

May I ask you a question?
(Anytime, my child.)

Can we do it in English?
(We are already doing it. You know my band of communication is broad enough.)

OK. There is so much suffering in the world.
(I see it too. What is it you want to ask?)

Let me get to the heart of the question, OK?
(No problem, my child.)

Aren't you willing to stop the suffering?
(You bet. I bet my Son on it!)

You meant Jesus Christ?
(You got that right!)

OK, suppose you all love.
(It is a foolproof fact sealed by the blood of my Son.)

But not all people buy in that.
(Does that become my problem again?)

Sort of.
(Go on, please.)

Alright. Aren't you powerful enough to stop all suffering?
(Uh-huh. That is not what you are asking, isn't it?)

Nope. But why don't you just stop it?
(I see where you are coming from. Want to hear it?)

I am dying to get an answer.
(You need not be, my dear child. Come on, let's discuss.)

So why don't you just stop all suffering instantaneously?
(You mean like that, a snap?)

Uh-huh, just like a snap.
(When are you ready for it?)

What do you mean? I am ready now. Some people wanted it yesterday.
(I have a plan already set in motion.)

Like what?
(Remember the Day of the Lord?)

Yeah, it is mentioned in the Old Testament.
(And in the New Testament too.)

You mean the return of Christ and the ushering in of a New Heaven and a New Earth?
(Exactly, my child.)

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
(Perfect! You are quoting from Revelation 21:4.)

But my question still remains: why not now?
(It may well be. The waiting has been long enough.)

Are you serious?
(Am I not? The creation waits in eager expectations...)

for the Son of God to be revealed.
(Good memory! That is Romans 8: 19.)

But why not in the days of Noah, Habakkuk, or China's Quyuan?
(Most of you would not have been born then! My precious child.)

You mean we have to be born?
(What do you think? Not wanting to?)

OK, OK. So you will stop suffering, once and for all.
(Did I not say that clearly?)

What do you tell people who complain about suffering?
(What did the Bible say?)

Suffering is a direct result of our sin.
(Most of the time, but not always. People often misunderstand that part.)

You mean cases of suffering like Job, Joseph, and the man born blind in John 9.
(You got it right.)

Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
(There is something positive about suffering, as it is well said in Romans 5:4.)

But there is suffering that does not make sense, period.
(I see what you are getting into. State it.)

Like innocent babies who starve to death, like the babies with AIDS, like...
(Slow down. Let's talk about it one at a time.)

So what do you say about babies dying of starvation?
(Where on earth are the foods for them?)

They do not have it. Don't you see it?
(What is my command to all of you then?)

Love thy neighbor as thyself. To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the Lord your God.
(Well said. Then just do it.)

But, but, but...
(But what?)

You mean you supply the food and we fail to distribute?
(That is the point. People criticize me for their own failure!)

May I ask why you do not directly distribute food from heaven?
(You like it the way Israelites were fed in the desert? They disliked it so much.)

OK. I get it. May I ask another question? Did all the dead babies go to heaven?
(You will get to see many. But can you summarize our discussion before we go on?)

First, suffering is largely a result of our rebellion again you.
(And?)

Second, suffering is temporary and will be done away with in your appointed time.
(And?)

Third, even suffering has merits, for it builds up perseverance and character and hope.
(And?)

Fourth, suffering compels us to show compassion and love for the suffering souls.
(And?)

Fifth, strangely, suffering is a character of God for Christ has suffered for our sake.
(Well said, my dear child. Do help those disadvantaged and underprivileged in your midst.)

(2004/4/20)

(2) CHAT WITH GOD ON DEATH

God,
Why death?

(Let's talk about it.
What do you want to know?)

Why does death prevail in the first place?

(Of what aspect?
Physical, or metaphysical?)

I want to know both.

(You pick a start.)

Alright. Physical first.

(That is easy!
Without death there is no life.)

Huh?

(You see, death is a vital part of life.)

Hmmm, I seem to get it.

(I bet you can name quite a few examples.)

Yeah. Astrophysicists talk about the death of stars.
Without that, life-supporting elements would stay put,
and never come out of its nuclear furnace.
Life would be impossible without the atomic building blocks.

(That is the modern scientific understanding of my creation.)

I sure hope that is not far from the truth.

(That is certainly one way of looking at it from your space time.)

Then, there are geologists
who talk about the large-scale death of plants and animals.
Without that, there would be no charcoal and petroleum.

(Not so selfish a perception, as if I knew you would need energy of all sorts.)

Some even claim unabashedly
without the catastrophic ending of Dinosaurs' terror reign,
Man would not begin to walk on planet Earth.

(Quite an anthropocentric view again,
as if I sent the heavenly bodies to sterilize the incubator of life.)

Are you then supposing the opposite?

(Nothing is out of my sovereignty,
not even asteroids and meteorites streaking in the firmament.)

Wow, that is quite a statement.
Granted that without death
Earth would be in dearth of shared space and resources.
So what if Adam and Eve did not sin?

(We have not finished chatting on the physical aspect of death.
Let's go back and dwell a little longer.)

OK, without death, life's precious elements would not recycle.
That is still on condition that our right-sized Earth is as small as it is.

(That is quite a thought! There are certain constraints in my original design.)

Furthermore, without programmed cell death, embryos would not develop normally.

(Uh-huh. Just think about a sphere of grape-like cells lumping ever larger,
if there were no robust developmental circuitry, including apoptosis.)

That is for sure.
Apoptosis routinely destroys aged and potentially cancerous cells.

(So are you still unhappy about death?)

I am quite unhappy about the metaphysical aspect of it.

(Let's move on to that aspect then.)

Allow me to get to the heart of the question:
Does the gift of free will inevitably come with her twin brother death?

(Sound like a double-edged sword, isn't it?)

Very much so! How I wish the twin would part their conjoined heads.

(That will be the reality in the forthcoming new Heaven and new Earth.)

So free will can be a partner forever with life, as opposed to with death.

(That is certainly within the boundary of possibility.
But without death's sting, the union with life wouldn't be as sweet.)

O how we dislike the gall-like bitterness of distasteful death!

(I am on you side too. Remember, death is not even immune to God!)

You mean the Crucifixion?

(That is precisely my point!)

So death became part of God's feeling and experience too?

(Not just death, but painful Father-Son separation in the process.)

Can you then say death is not all worthless?

(Where, O death is your victory?)

Where, O death is your sting?

(Apostle Paul eloquently expressed that victoriously sweet sentiment.)

I agree. A death that conquers all deaths! How marvelous indeed!

(You got it.
Live on under the shadow of death for now,
But live with the gleaming hope of life forever.
Wait for the tolling bell.)

The tolling bell to death, that is.

(Well said. Live out the hope of life.)

Thank you, dear God.

(June 3, 2004)

(3) CHAT WITH GOD ON SEX

God.
(What's up?)

Can we continue our chat?
(Sure. What's in your mind this time?)

Bu Hao Yi Si.
(What?)

It spells S E X.
(Nothing is taboo to our chat.)

Thank you.
(Bu Ke Qi.)

Why would you design such a thing?
(Everyone detests it?)

Oh no. Everyone salivates for and loves it.
(So what is wrong with it?)

The problem is that sex becomes too good a commodity.
(A commodity?)

Yes, a commodity. It is traded actively all the time.
(Tell me about it.)

You see, sex sells.
(It appears that few things sell well without a sex appeal.)

Just look around. We are bombarded with it and cannot seem to let go of it from sunrise to sundown.
(And especially so from sundown to sunrise).

True. Why would you design us in such a sexual way?
(OK. I take that you can name a few biological and biblical reasons.)

I know sex enables procreation in a mutually enjoyable manner.
(Uh-huh. Take away the joy factor, human race need not worry about population explosion.)

I know sex enhances diversity of human traits due to gene recombination.
(That is a biological consideration in my design.)

I know sex symbolizes the loving intimacy of two souls in a marriage.
(Yes, but people are edging out the bond of marriage, or trying to redefine it.)

By the way, what can you say about same-sex sex?
(Abominable perversion!)

What about heterosexual fornication, adultery and prostitution?
(Equally abhorrent!)

So sex is strictly confined within the first marriage bond?
(That is the biblical mandate.)

But few people these days measure up to your high standard.
(It does not change an iota of my moral code on sex.)

What do you say to a couple who cohabit?
(Only if they refrain from committing this cardinal sin before marriage.)

Cardinal sin! What an ironically meaningful name!
(You got it. I have said judgment starts from my household.)

But cohabiting couples argue that they are in de facto marriage.
(If only they mean that for a lifetime commitment.)

So you approve cohabitation if they intend for a lifelong marriage?
(Not so fast. It was sanctioned in the days without formal civil marriage license.)

In other words, modern day couples ought to secure a marriage certificate first.
(Why not? What's the hurry not to secure it first?)

I am puzzled by the heterosexual couples who downplay this marriage certificate.
(All the while, homosexual partners are rushing for it, regardless the legality.)

The world has really turned upside down.
(Oh well. The world is very much like the days of Lot and Abraham.)

Does this foreshadow the second coming of Christ?
(Be vigilant about it.)

Alright. A parenthetical aspect of sex.
(What?)

If sex is such a good thing, why is sex nonexistent in heaven?
(Mind to take a guess?)

No longer need to procreate offspring?
(Certainly true. There is another dimension to the answer.)

There will be far better joy than sexual joy?
(Human mind cannot conjure up that brand new prospect, can't it?)

So meeting dozens of virgins at the pearly heavenly gate is pure fancy?
(It is taught by certain false religions. There is no shred of truth in it.)

Then can people get the most out of sex while in this life?
(I permit mankind to experience delightful sexual fulfillment within the boundary of a valid marriage.)

Is that a tacit approval of colorful sexual adventure in marriage?
(I forbid only the degrading and harmful acts. Remember the mind is the key here.)

You mean a fully engrossed body with a pure mind?
(Well put. Purity has no room for inappropriate sexual fantasy or perversion.)

That is harder than sex per se.
(You are not alone on this. But flee from sexual sins at all cost.)

Is sexual sin greater than other sins, such as idolatry, murder, and jealousy?
(Any sin is a breach of my commandment. No sin is small in my sight.)

But the bible equates sexual sin with idolatry, worship of a false god.
(Yes. Sex symbolizes a type of worship.)

As if sex is worshipped as the goddess.
(Besides, sexual sin violates one's own Temple of the Holy Spirit.)

I see. So even our body has eternal value.
(Provided that the body is here to serve an eternal purpose.)

A final question: will our resurrected body lack sex organs?
(A logical corollary. But wait and see what really will happen.)

OK. Thank you very much for the candid chat.
(Sex has its pleasure and purpose, but it is fleeting and transient. Do not dwell on it.)

(June 8, 2004)

(4) CHAT WITH GOD ON MONEY

God. Me again.
(How are you lately?)

Very well, thank you. How about yourself?
(We are fine. Thanks for asking.)

Can we talk about something else everyone loves?
(We squared one away yesterday. So what's up today?)

If you name just one greatest invention by man, what would it be?
(Ah, I see where you are coming.)

Money!
(I'd love to talk about it.)

Really? But you sure lack nothing, not even a penny.
(Oh well, my people need lots of it.)

You see, that is a real problem.
(Put the problem on the table. Let's not table it too quickly.)

The bible teaches that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
(Is there anything wrong with this statement?)

Of course not. But many of your people love money a great deal, no less than others.
(I can see that. That includes you.)

Certainly. I once dreamed of becoming an instant millionaire and bought lottery tickets.
(I sure know that history, a few hundred dollars were wasted according to my count.)

No kidding! You really do know the details then.
(Nothing is kept from my sight. English vocabulary has a word for this, omniscience.)

Oh my. I even prayed to become rich and promised to tithe my lottery fortune.
(I heard that prayer many years ago. But I turned a deaf ear to those silly requests and selfish pleas of keeping 90% to him.)

But you did bless a certain grandma in New Jersey a few years ago.
(Look what she did. She donated ALL her multimillion dollars winning to her church and charities.)

So you approve playing lottery if people are willing to donate it all to charity?
(No, I don't. But I can still make the best out of the worst.)

So just how much money is enough for us?
(Remember the bad old rainy days?)

I sure do. I could not even afford a few Renminbi Yuan in elementary school.
(But you came through alright, did you?)

Thanks for that. I really mean it.
(Remember how much money you opened your first bank account with?)

A paltry ten dollars, to be exact.
(That is a world of fortune to many who do not make ends meet.)

But my bank account waxes and wanes just like the moon.
(Almost everybody else's does that too. You are not an exception.)

But mine went downhill to only nickels and dimes last year.
(That's a pessimistic way of looking at things. Just tally your total asset.)

I get your point. I guess I am a reasonably well to do middle class.
(That economic stratum has the most complaints. Any more grievances?)

Another one: Should we parents save enough money for kids to go to college?
(It is less a question of should than a question of how and how much.)

So how and how much should we do it?
(Plan carefully and live frugally. Save as much as you can.)

But I do not seem to have any left after all the monthly expenses.
(Suppose you really do not have any extra to put away, are you worried then?)

Yes and no.
(Tell me about it.)

Yes, I worry somewhat because a good college now costs tens of thousands of dollars per year.
(Multiply that by four years and then three kids, you may not make it even if you bet your house on it. And what is the no part?)

No, I need not worry because I know we are in your gracious hands of providence.
(So what's the fuss then?)

I guess there is a chasm between the knowledge in mind and assurance in heart.
(Do not worry about the things of this world. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.)

And all these things shall be added unto you.
(Good memory. Any other issues?)

Last one: Should a Christian devote his life to money-making?
(Why not, so long as he earns legitimately and ethically, yet he is not addicted to it and wisely uses it for altruistic ends.)

So you like the shrewd manager that Jesus commended in Luke 16?
(Uh-huh, my people of light should use worldly wealth to gain friends, so that when it is gone, he will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.)

OK, thank you again for another session of chat.
(You are welcome. Do not worry about the greatest human invention. It will amount to next to nothing in my eternal Kingdom.)

(June 9, 2004)

(5) CHAT WITH GOD ON HELL

God. Let's talk about Hell.
(I cannot say it is my pleasure to do that.)

Why would you consign people to such a dreadful place?
(Explain to me first why you call it dreadful since many seem undaunted.)

Lake of unquenchable fire. Gnashing of teeth. Hopeless. Is that not dreadful enough?
(But many are not afraid of such a place. Neither were you.)

Oh yes, once I was an arrogant bug ignorant of your matchless righteousness and unsurpassable love.
(So you now have a problem with Hell?)

I do. Many people resent to the mere mention of it.
(Why would anyone be resentful if they choose to go there?)

Oh please. They have no middle ground between Heaven and Hell.
(Forget the idea of purgatory. Indeed there is no middle ground.)

It is by your unshakably sovereign will that this dichotomy of eternal fate comes to pass.
(After all I am that I am, the Lord of lords and King of kings.)

So please tell me why such a harsh punishment to the unrepentant rebellious bunch.
(I respect their freewill choice.)

The answer is that simple?
(Simple answer happens to be the right answer.)

But any parents would do their absolute best to prevent bad choice made by their children.
(Yes, only if the children are not capable of making a meaningful choice.)

Are you suggesting that people incapable of making choices will be spared of Hell?
(That is a mystery that I shall reveal on the Judgment Day that is to come.)

Have you done anything substantial to dissuade people from being Hell-bound?
(Absolutely and positively. You name my efforts, please.)

OK. You have prepared a path of salvation through your son, our savior Jesus Christ.
(The only path to eternal salvation under heavens.)

There lies the real problem. It is confusing to many as to how mankind can be saved.
(Why do you say my only plan of salvation is confusing to people?)

You see, there are so many religions in this world vying for their adherents.
(But all major revelatory religions affirm one true God, the Maker of all things.)

That is certainly true. But they differ by the way how we may be saved.
(Yes, man's lifelong mission is to pick out the only correct path to me.)

But I wish this picking process were made less confusing to us.
(Why are you hung up on this issue of confusion?)

I am speaking for other people who claim your salvation plan is confusing.
(Let them speak for themselves. You are not confused, aren't you?)

I guess I am not. After all, you call me to be an evangelist.
(So state to others why my plan is crystal clear.)

OK. First you have placed a moral code and sense of eternity deep in our conscience.
(And symbolically my ten commandments were etched onto the two tablets given to Moses.)

So by your holy decree, we are measured and found short of your perfect standard.
(In other words, all man have sinned and fallen short of my glory endowed to mankind at creation.)

Next you chose a people of your own, the nation of Israel.
(By calling out a man I renamed as Abraham, meaning the Father of all nations.)

You spoke to many prophets among the chosen people.
(They prophesied in my name to reveal progressively and collectively the nitty-gritty of my salvation plan set out for all nations.)

And the only Savior of mankind came and lived and died and rose again just as what were prophesied hundreds to thousands years before His appointed time.
(That is my Son who willingly humbled himself to become a man of flesh and blood.)

He is the Lamb of God, sacrificed on the Cross to shed His blood for all sinners.
(Again just as prophesied. I sure hope people's hearts of stone may be melted by that supreme sacrificial love.)

All who believe unto Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
(Whosoever accept Him by believing in Him shall be called my redeemed children.)

You did not stop there. You sent the Holy Spirit to convict people of their sin.
(And also to guide and regenerate them into the Way, Truth, and Life found in my Son.)

You set up your Son's Church to bear witness for Him and preach the gospel to all mankind.
(So that my Kingdom will spread the world over, just as what I revealed to prophets David and Daniel in their times.)

OK. You have done a great deal, even sacrificially, to convince people for making the right choice.
(No one has any excuse not to make the right choice.)

Now let's go back to our initial question: Why Hell?
(Hell is the lot of those who choose to spend eternity there.)

But can those who reject your plan of salvation be directed to a half-decent place?
(I see your confusion here. Other than Heaven, there is no place better than Hell.)

Really? Your statement startles me.
(You see, Hell is a place devoid of my glory. Man there will become like devils.)

So the overwhelming punishment is an absolute necessity to stop any and all evil deeds?
(Precisely. In that regard, hell is a prison where no more evil deeds can be committed by sinners against each other.)

In other words, save for this type of Hell, Hell would become an unthinkably far more hellish hell.
(That is a mouthful, but well said.)

We can say then the severe and irrevocable punishment is actually flowing from your care and love.
(But I wish they accept my love in totality and live happily in my presence in Heaven.)

Will the suffering in Hell be forever or the sinners will be annihilated sooner or later according to the severity of their sins in this life?
(All are created as immortal souls. The latter-day resurrection, even of the unrepentant, guarantees that outcome.)

Will your redeemed children in Heaven have any conscious knowledge of the existence of Hell? If so, will Heaven become painful and distressful for many in view of the suffering of our unsaved blood relatives in Hell?
(Pain, sorrow and death are things of the old universe and will no longer be a part of your Heavenly experience. All mankind, redeemed or lost, are my children and each other's relatives. I love all more than any of you do. I will carry alone the pain and distress of eternal separation since I alone am able to.)

So you still love them? Can't you just forgive all whether or not they believe you?
(My Son and the Holy Spirit would have gone in vain into their space-time to seek, convict and forgive. Still, many have rejected our merciful call to eternal salvation.)

Thus man as freewill being is gonna be accountable for their willful choice.
(How I wish all man chose life, not death. If only they have ears to hear.)

(June 10, 2004)

(6) Chat with Jesus on Eating Pork

Mr.X is brought to Jesus in Heaven.

JESUS : Welcome Home.

Mr.X: Thank you, your honor. Why did Christians eat pork all their lives?

JESUS : So?

Mr.X: Isn't true that the Bible (I mean the Old Testament) expressly forbade the eating of unclean animals including the tasty pork? Oh, for heaven's sake, not to mention the roasted piglet that I, for one, enjoyed immensely in the restaurant while on Earth.

JESUS : What did I say in the Sermon on the Mount?

Mr.X: You said there in Matthews 5:17 -18, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

JESUS (smiling gently): Oh My! You memorized the King James Version of the Bible verses? Commendable!

Mr.X: Bu Hao Yi Si. I once loved to quote Bible verses of apparentcontradiction to shame your believers, for they did not always do what they believed.

JESUS : Let's go back to that passage then. Who can fulfill the law and all of the prophets?

Mr.X: You, your honor.

JESUS : Who else? Any Christians here? 

Mr.X: Definitely not!

JESUS : You are dead right! So why are you accusing them of not fulfilling the laws of the Old Testament?

Mr.X(with tone of protest): But the law is written in black ink on white papers. How can they breach the law of God?

JESUS : Not quite right. It was originally written on the tablets of stone and given to Moses. It has also been written in the heart of every person.

Mr.X: OK OK, you are right. But....

JESUS : Now let's look deeper into that passage: ...till all be fulfilled. When and what do you think that refers to?

Mr.X: You mean you alone fulfilled it while walking on Earth as the Son of Man?

JESUS : Precisely! No one else is able to accomplish that, except the Son of God. Once it is fulfilled, it is a done deal forever.

Mr.X: But don't they have to obey the law anyway?

JESUS : They can never obey the moral code of God unless they have a regenerated life by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Jesus turns his face and smiles to the Person of Holy Spirit, some non-Trinitarians in the big crowd blushed a bit on seeing and hearing this).

Mr.X(in disbelief): Does that mean they do not have to obey the law then?

JESUS : First of all, ever since their being born again, they have never been under the yoke of the fulfilled OT law. They are free from the curse of the law which consigns any unrighteous to eternal punishment unless they repent of their sin and turn back to us. ( Jesus turns his face to God the Father, winking mischievously to those non-trinitarians). The essence of the law is to love God and love each other. Under the life-changing power of God, children of God can gradually practice that kind of love despite their inadequacy far from perfection.

Mr.X: But can they eat pigs?

JESUS : Ah, that pig thing really bothers you. Do you mean clean pigs or unclean pigs? (Hahahahahaha)

Mr.X: I am confused. But the OT Bible says all, I repeat, ALL, pigs are unclean. That is why your chosen people Israelites detested the eating of pigs and other unclean animals.

JESUS : You are hung up with unclean things. But who defines it?

Mr.X: God, of course.

JESUS : Have you examined the passage in Chapter 10 of Acts?

Mr.X: You mean Apostle Peter 's weird experience of seeing the heavenly vision that he was ordered three times in a row by a certain angelic being to kill and eat the unclean animals on a great sheet?

JESUS : Uh-huh. The angel we sent to Peter even gave him a lesson of theology: Do not call anything impure what God has made clean.

Mr.X: I do not understand the about-face here.

JESUS : Now you are admitting. I wish you were not as persistent while surfing on the rainbow forum. You turned a blind eye and deaf ear to what Xinmin and others, my servants, taught on this subject.

Mr.X: Why would God command the Jews not to eat unclean animals in the first place if later on God rescind that law in the New Testament era?

JESUS : Good question! What do you think?

Mr.X: For health reason? C'mon, we Chinese and many other pagans ate pigs ever since pigs were bred into existence. Our ancestors probably ate wild pigs before they were domesticated.

JESUS : Health reason is the least important reason. Care to guess another?

Mr.X: For spiritual reason?

JESUS : Remember, my chosen people Israel was set apart from all other peoples, to be a harbinger and vessel of my blessing intended for all peoples. To ask them to obey certain ceremonial and civil and moral laws is to train them up in holiness and sanctification. Oh boy! How miserably they failed.

Mr.X: Puzzling to me.

JESUS : The essence of man's holiness or sanctification is being set apart for God. Clean animals were separated from unclean ones for the very purpose of my people practicing that holiness meaning "being separated apart", and striving toward sanctification meaning "being perfected".

Mr.X: I still do not get it.

JESUS : Remember the tree of life versus the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden?

Mr.X: What does that have anything to with our discussion here?

JESUS : The tree of the knowledge of good and evil does not mean the tree is a bad tree. Far from it! This simple command by God to the first family of mankind is merely used to help them tell or highlight the will of obedience from the will of rebellion. St. Augustine got that interpretation right.

Mr.X: So in the same way, the dichotomy of unclean versus clean animals is meant for the Israelites to live a life of holiness, being set apart from the pagans who were relentless in their pursuit of carnal and cannibalized pleasure and idols worship.

JESUS : Well said. There is a deeper meaning to it. The clean animals were meant not only for food in man's holy and sanctified living, but for sacrificial offering to God. Thus my people may be reminded of their sin and the sin offering waiting ahead for all mankind.

Mr.X: I begin to get it. So now I understand why Noah was asked to bring seven pairs of the clean animals and only one pair of unclean animals.

JESUS : Yes. Some of the clean animals were used in sacrificial offering by Noah 's family while they were in the Ark floating in the flood.

Mr.X: Holy Cow! That is cool.

JESUS : Most importantly, all of the Old Testament sacrificial offering is meant to point to the coming Lamb of God for the sacrificial atonement of sin. Once I broke into human history to usher in the anticipated deliverance according to the divine plan enunciated by the prophets, all the OT laws were fulfilled once for all. Keeping the ceremonial laws would be tantamount to lighting a candle when the brightly shining Sun has erased all darkness.

Mr.X: The puzzles are falling into the right places. Everything makes sense now.

JESUS : Now do you understand the issue of unclean versus clean animals?

Mr.X: Yep.

JESUS : Welcome to the feast in the family of God.

Mr.X(incredulous): Is this for real? Am I in?

JESUS : Yes, you are. Remember that tragic event that happened to you later in your life? You repented sorrowfully and tearfully. You are welcome to the grand reunion of all saints.

Mr.X(in breathtaking awe): Thanks a million! This is so unreal. It is surreal. What about Bach? Is he saved? He had emphasized on justification by deeds a great deal on the net, as opposed to the orthodox of justification by faith.

JESUS : You shall find out which of the numerous Bachs of various musical talent are present.

Mr.X: Are we going to be served roasted pork or piglet? I am salivating for it.

JESUS : You irredeemable glutton, come to the banquet and see for yourself.

(The chat continues in the most blissful atmosphere.....)

(2005/1/19)