But, not if the intent is cruelty ...or even worse.

The worse would be not just a cruel single event ...but, to get you to believe a lie.

The lie may be so effective that it may even get you to engage in cruelties to yourself ...in fear of believing it.

There are some that feel that one way to overcome our fears, is to laugh at them.

But, we should be certain that we do not laugh at other people's sufferings, nor the seriousness of their beliefs.

Nor should we laugh at things we should take seriously ...unless we are going to soon take them seriously, after venting a bit.

There is a religious following that though they may have slight deviations with certain details, believe that on the Last Day the Supreme Being of their faith will resurrect or re-create all dead bodies to bring back life to them for that final day of judgment.

And one's eternal destination depends on an assessment of the balance of good to bad deeds done by each person.

The day of judgment is described as passing over Hell on a narrow bridge in order to enter Paradise. Those who fall, weighted by their bad deeds, will remain in Hell forever.

As I picture this in my mind, it does not seem to be a moment of much confidence.  It looks to be a very fragile, and often scary moment at the end of a difficult journey ...which soon could become even more difficult.

And by this following picture, it seems it would not take much weight to cause them to fall.

And, of course, falling into eternal peril is not a thought anyone would want to consider.

And it is not a laughing matter.  Though it is also not true.

And truly these pictures are from a movie, one of a series of comedies from Monty Python, this one entitled, "The Holy Grail".

And this is depicted as the Bridge of Death ...

Perhaps a bit funny ...or perhaps very funny, but in reality, even a king cannot outwit the King of Kings, who is ultimately the One we must turn to.

Yet, there are those who've attempted to outwit so many with falsehoods ...and our eternal destination is not at all a laughing matter.

Yet again, we can lighten up a bit ...and not feel the burden of our misdeeds, or the weight that they place upon us.

The truth is, there is a Judgment Day ...

Don't be deceived into thinking that your destination is sealed by your works, nor think the worst of bad works can be considered good.

There are good works, not by those who seek out to kill, but by many who seek to save others ...as did this group of Muslims in Kenya.

Yes, I believe God considers good works ...but, we are not saved by them.

If we are concerned for our destination in eternity, then turn to the work of Jesus ...as He sacrificed Himself for us.

Some people deal daily with much uncertainty ...surrounded by those who want to drastically affect their lives.

With 60 passengers on board a bus, it was stopped at Papa City by a group of militants who shot the windscreen.

Witnesses said a man entered the bus and ordered everyone to get out and form two separate groups of non-Muslims and Muslims. 

Some of the Muslim passengers gave non-Muslims headscarves to try and conceal their identities when the bus stopped ...and several non-Muslims managed to survive the attack thanks to the donated scarves.

Many people think it honorable to die for their faith ...thinking they should never participate in anything resembling denying their beliefs.  There are those who would say they would have died, before they would hide behind scarves.

Others find it more meaningful to rather live their faith, than die for it.

I do not feel qualified to judge the actions of either.  I do recall reading of a situation that happened around 4,000 years ago ...where Abraham said Sarah was his sister, sort of viewed as perhaps a half-truth.  God chose to reveal what He wanted to ...to the Egyptian leader.  And today, God is revealing much to those whom He knows are finding it difficult to embrace the ugly side of life ...and whom are ready to receive the truth of what He knows they've beforehand not seen, having not viewed it in His true light.

I had to dig to find this ...as I saw it briefly, then could not find it. I wondered why this example is not being shown more. I tried to ponder what mixed feelings could be involved. I certainly would understand why the media perhaps shouldn't alert terrorists, so the terrorists wouldn't fall for this trick again. 

But, let's be very clear who the trick is on. I do not know of any religious belief which is centered on making God angry ....no matter by what name you call your Supreme Being.   And though religions may seek conversion of unbelievers ...the focus is usually not by coercion or force, but by patience and love.  Also most people believe that their Supreme Being would not be happy if reckless killing resulted in the death of fellow believers. So, I understand the danger felt by those who stopped the bus to kill unbelievers ...as they did not know who they were, and their Supreme Being would not be happy. 

To understand this, I researched a bit of it ...and have talked to spiritual leaders who say this group is already in fear because they feel their salvation is dependent upon good works. And though the most pompous and arrogant may praise themselves with self-accolades ...the rest of us know we have failed miserably, and continue to do so. 

So, if you believe this: A central doctrine of the Quran, and one of the most important teachings of Muhammad, is the Last Day, on which the world will be destroyed and Allah will raise all people from the dead to be judged. On the Last Day, resurrected humans will be judged by Allah according to their deeds. One's eternal destination depends on balance of good to bad deeds in life. They are either granted admission to Paradise, where they will enjoy spiritual and physical pleasures forever, or condemned to Hell to suffer spiritual and physical torment for eternity.

The day of judgment is described as passing over Hell on a narrow bridge in order to enter Paradise. Those who fall, weighted by their bad deeds, will remain in Hell forever. 

The trick works because fear is so powerful that it is masked by a false bravery, and is clouded by the deliberate manipulation of those who would lie to you and me. To remind you that your bad deeds far exceed your good deeds is true, though not encouraging, motivating, nor edifying. 

The lie is to tell you that salvation is by your works (not mentioning how we have a Savior, in Jesus, who sacrificed for us ...placing His deed to outweigh our lacking, not withholding from us because we acknowledge our struggles). 

The next lie is to tell you that your Supreme Being will overlook all your misdeeds by replacing them with your biggest misdeed of all, of killing others ...and telling you the horrendous lie that it is a good deed, and will grant you forgiveness from all other deeds.

Yes, there are some very harsh words expressed with considering how to deal with those seeking out to harm you.

I do not have any high level directive to seek out and destroy all insects with stingers.  But, if I feel my wife or children are in harm's way ...then I have only one mindset.

In turn, after I am convinced my family is safe, I will not attempt to engage in verbal stingers ...grouping all bees, wasps, hornets, and other stinging creatures as one group.  

Just joined the family with watching the new Star Wars (#7) ...and they wanted to then re-watch # 4-6. 

The emperor (in 4-6) had his own terrorist group ...trying to lie to Luke Skywalker, like he did to Darth Vader, to use the power to assist him. 

The thirst for power is such a scary thing ...and many are lied to, leading them to believe all past sins will be overlooked if they kill unbelievers, a sin beyond what most of them probably ever committed. Once committed to doing this ...the only out is to come to Jesus, yet how difficult is the conversion of one who is killing those whom they must join? 

Consider 'Finn' from Star Wars VII ...risking his life for what he knew was right, not just what he was 'told' was right from an evil empire.

Or we could be told what is right from another Source ...as was told to Saul, who became known as the apostle Paul.

Yes, I am told that many Muslims are having dreams, revealing to them the truth of Jesus.  And that is certainly something to celebrate, to share, and to hold with certainty ...beyond all unfulfilled hopes, we can live the promise of our eternal destination ...and my hope for each, is that you do.