It took country and gospel singer, Johnny Cash (19322030), to write a book that was so good Billy Graham said he and his wife both read it twice! That endorsement encouraged me to order the book, entitled MAN IN WHITE online. Cash wrote this novel with much research to learn the way people lived in the time right after Jesus Christ, God’s Son’s crucifixion and resurrection over 2000 years ago, and he kept pouring through the Bible, mostly in the New Testament where Paul is contributed to writing 13 of its books. It took so long to write the book because several times he gave up on it and shelved it several times to hopefully forget it. Surprising himself, though, he finally finished it, which explains the two forces that exists on earth: good, (Godly), and evil (Satanic). Readers can see why Satan didn’t want it printed. It proves that true believers of Jesus Christ were willing to give their lives for Him--which has continued throughout history up thru today The book is such an important testimony of a man, who first caused thousands of followers of Jesus to be persecuted for their faith, and then miraculously was affronted by Jesus Himself that changed his beliefs 180 degrees.

Cash is best known all over the world as a highly successful country music singer. He added gospel albums later, expressing his faith in God. But he said writing this book was the most challenging thing he had ever attempted. The story begins with Saul, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, stood in the Court of Israel and testified that the Court’s laws and sacrifices were being mocked by the apostles of Jesus. They stilled believed in the old laws because they refused to believe the Son of God had come to earth--but not as a King but as a common man. They just didn’t ‘get it.’ They didn’t believe a so-called carpenter-rabbi from Nazareth (Jesus) was God’s Son who died for their sins and then was resurrected. The high priest told Saul to find and arrest the apostles, and men, women, and their children and have them imprisoned. This was the beginning of thousands who died because of Saul.

Saul really thought he was doing the ruthless work for God. He knew Scriptures, read it from scrolls and prayed daily. The Sanhedrin hadn’t witnessed Christ’s death and in 3 days his resurrection from the dead. (It’s hard not to believe it since so many writings from people of different nations and languages are recorded.) He considered himself an upright Godly man just clearing the earth of bad people.

There is no way to know how many were actually put to death. But in Cash’s novel he wrote that Saul had to have his conscience challenged by have bad dreams and continuously ‘seeing’ the peaceful faces of Stephen and others being put to death.

Soon, he was to seek out and arrest more innocents in the city of Damascus. He began his journey with several soldiers for many miles, when, all of a sudden, a large bright light appeared from the sky. It blinded Saul as he fell unconscious. When he awoke, he was blind. Then, he saw it through his closed eyelids: a Man in White within the glowing light--he realized it was Jesus who kept quoting the Scriptures, so much that it seemed to have softened Saul’s heart. Saul kept listening as Jesus spoke of living, expressing love, compassion, and how to treat people as he wanted to be treated. When he began realizing all the horror he caused, he begged for forgiveness. With help from the soldiers, he walked on to Damascus, even though knowing it would be dangerous for him. His previous actions caused many to want him persecuted for the deaths he caused. But Jesus told him he wouldn’t die until his mission was done--and that was to teach others the Good News of Jesus. This would continue so the Word would spread to all the world (as they knew it).

Soon Saul received his sight back, and then he was to be called Paul. As he traveled to spread the Word, he experienced living through a shipwreck, torture, imprisonment, to name a few tragic events. It is worth opening the New Testament and reading ‘the rest of the story,’ beginning with the book, Acts of the Apostles. In all these years, people have been willing to suffer and even die for their faith.

It amazes me that people choose to be unhappy instead of choosing to treat people with respect, love, peace, kindness, and other Fruits of the Spirit (found in Galatians 5:22-23). God created us to have a free will to make choices as to choose good ones or bad ones. Whichever they choose will determine where they will go after they pass from this earth. And according to the Bible, that’s either Heaven or Hell. Read it in the most popular and longest lasting book that still continues to be printed. Be careful, though, when buying new Bibles. I’ve learned some are being printed now omitting certain words that are considered sins. And ‘Hell” is being taken out. Slowly but surely, people are getting away from what God’s inspired Word says. Satan is so sly, giving people ideas to make up their own rules: What feels good, do it! There are no consequences. Really? Be careful. Wasn’t it Thomas Jefferson who cut out parts of his Bible that he didn’t like? He seemed to be playing God. Gives us something to think about.

Have a blessed week and bless someone in need. One day you may be in their place.