BW is exactly right in this devotion. I agree completely.

Now just take it one step further and realize that heaven and hell and "salvation" are metaphors as well. Then you'll begin to understand what Jesus was getting at.

Erik, Are you suggesting once again that we follow you and your way of thinking? You always want to take the reigns on this website. You are off base with your suggestion and you know it. You only want to lead people down the wrong path. Please don't continue to twist what Bryant Wright is talking about in this devotion and what the Scriptures are all about.

Mark 9:42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea." You know, Erik, Jesus said those words and His words are said for a purpose and they do not come back empty. God's word gives plenty of warning of how we are to behave in this world and we need to be encouragers to the believers and those who would believe. Again, the darkness of your heart shows through your comment. Another reminder to keep praying for you.

Good point, Janice. Stop bating people, Erik. Twisting scripture and the words of others is not useful. The "father of lies" is very adept at twisting the words of others. Why would you want to emulate something I think we can all agree is wrong, whether you believe in Satan or not.

The best way to read scripture is the same way you would read other documents. You read it with plain sense of what the writer was trying to communicate, which can usually be readily seen in the text. You also take into account the customs of the time, and you never read passages in isolation.

A plain reading of this passage shows that this is a device to get the attention of those Jesus was talking to. A plain reading of other passages clearly indicate that Jesus is not speaking metaphorically about heaven and hell. This is clear, regardless of whether someone thinks Jesus actually said the words, or for that matter, whether he even existed.

Erik, I was wondering if you could explain some more of your belief system to us, because I seriously doubt that an outlook that devoid of hope could end in anything short of a Buddhist or Hindu outlook.

History Teacher, I don't mean to put words in Erik's mouth,but in case he doesn't answer you, he is an agnostic that often comments on this site and after many discussions with him most of us believe that the best thing for us to do is to pray for him. I myself pray for him everyday but for the most part like most others familiar with him knows he enjoys being rather argumentative and often posts atheist sights to make his point. He's a intelligent person that we care about & will continue to pray for. Anyway, he is not a follower of any religion. God bless

@Janice: I'm not suggesting you follow anybody's way of thinking. Think for yourself.

@RickY: I'm not twisting words. I said I agreed with Bryant that Jesus spoke in metaphors.

I think you are right that we should consider the "custom of the time" when reading the words of Jesus. The 'custom of the time' was to talk about heaven and hell as if they were real places, but that was only to illustrate a point. The 'custom of the time' was also to make things up, invent miracles etc.

@History Teacher: are you suggesting that believing there is nothing after death is wrong simply because it sounds unpleasant? Forgive me if I am wrong in that assumption.

John 14:1-6

" 'Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.'

Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' "

Jesus was talking to His disciples, Thomas among them, in this passage and clearly speaks of an actual place. The true believers of today do know the Way which has not changed since Jesus spoke His loving words. Don't you just love that He said, "if it were not true I would have told you," because He knew He was speaking to such as doubting Thomas. He gives us all added reassurance that He is not making up a story about this. Heaven is real.

That's a great passage, Janice. What do you think Jesus meant when he said "no one comes to the Father
except through me."?

The Father God is in heaven and He made a pathway for people to join Him there. Father God's plan required Jesus to come down to earth and live with people and then to die upon the cross to fulfill the penalty for sin upon each person's life. It is the sin which keeps people forever separated from God without the acceptance of Jesus, the repentance of sin and allowing the blood of Jesus to cover over the sins of the person. Jesus is the only way that is legitimate according to God's plan that is presented in the Bible. It makes an eternal difference whether or not people accept God's Way.

Interestingly, this morning in my Bible reading I came across Matthew 13:34-35 (NET) "Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; He did not speak to them without a parable. This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.' " So you see that Jesus used parables with the crowd as His usual mode of communication but He was often more direct with the disciples such as when He spoke about Heaven and being the Way, Truth and Life. The Holy Spirit is obviously engaged with those who have understanding of this and who are modern day disciples.

And, No one comes to me unless he is drawn by the Father. John 6:44

What if "the Father" is a metaphor too?

Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No metaphors there. Just God telling us how to come home to him. If you don't believe in God, or in Heaven, or in Hell then you obviously don't believe that you need a way back. You have all you that you believe that you are ever going to get right here and now....that's it. Not for me, but to each his own.

Erik, if I said you are a metaphor would that make you be one? You are free to call God a metaphor if that pleases you but it does not make Him be a metaphor. God gives us plenty of information in the Bible to indicate He is not a metaphor but if you decide to neglect the words of the Bible...you can come up with all sorts of things to say about God that are inaccurate.