A NOTE TO OUR READERS: Today's scripture verse, John 14:6, was inadvertently replaced with the copy of the devotion. It has been changed on the web version and should now read, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

We are sorry for the error and hope everyone is blessed by today's devotion! Blessings to you all.

What would you do if you owned the mine? Would you allow the one guy to choose his death? I don't think so. I think you would rescue him, even if you had to force him out. That's what I would do.

Erik the Great,

Are you implying that if you were God, you would "force" unbelievers to accept His eternal salvation?

Ray: I'm saying that I wouldn't let someone perish in such an awful way simply because they made a bad or foolhardy decision. That would be a horrible thing to do.
I'm interested to know what you would do if you were one of the rescuers. Would you simply shrug and say "have it your way, pal" or would you rescue the person?

Your question reminds me of a little story I once heard- There was a man whose home flooded. He was able to reach the roof top and prayed for the Lord to save him. In just a few minutes a helicopter was hovering overhead and the men in the copter put down a basket for the man on the roof to get in. The man refused to leave saying the Lord was going to save him. So reluctantly the men in the helicopter left. The water continued to rise and there was only a small area on the roof left for the man to stand. Getting more frightened the man cried out again to the Lord to save him. Within minutes some men came by on a boat offering to save the man. The man on the roof again refused and insisted the Lord would save him so again reluctantly the men in the boat left. Unfortunately after that the man actually was overcome by the water and drowned. He made it to Heaven and the man angrily told God I prayed to you to save me from the flood and instead you let me drown! God looked down at him and replied " I sent a helicopter and a boat to save you what else did you want?" My point is Erik is God HAS made provision to save people, but they are the ones refusing to accept His offer of salvation. I'm still praying for you. All I have to say. God bless

Erik simply sees the world from a "man centered" perspective. We are not God, and we don't see God's plan. It's his creation, and he created it for his glory.

Many try to remake God in the image of a god they would like. They rely on their own wisdom, which is foolish. I don't always like what I see around me and in me, but I don't presume to tell God what to do.

CF and G: So you don't want to answer the question then I guess.

Is there anyone else out there who actually wants to answer the question???

Just like the man in the story, you don't recognize that you've already been answered. Moving on....

So you are saying you would not forcibly rescue the person, CF?
Do I have that right?

I've never forced an adult to do anything.Usually you can't force an adult to do anything unless by threat of gunpoint or threat of legal consequences and even then they CAN make the decision if they want to obey or get shot or go to jail. Everyone has a choice. Example, I would rather get shot than obey a man trying to force me to leave with him because I would personally rather die quickly than be tortured, but I imagine others would choose differently. I would have the right to pick which way I'd rather die in this instance, in other words just like the miner would have the right to. Either way it is still a choice. Unless mentally disabled, adults have a mind of their own and a free will of their own. Basically I can't force you to believe and as much as you'd like to deny trying to change us, you can't force us either. DO YOU believe we have the right to believe and do what we wish as long as we are hurting no one??? Then WHY are you on this site?? It's a bit hypocritical, don't you think to say we shouldn't be a certain way, yet YOU are the one coming to us trying to convince us to change. I AM moving on now. I have an appointment and I have answered you.I would appreciate your seeing what I'm truly saying and not twisting to mean something it's not. Thanks in advance.

One more comment before I leave though. In case you haven't noticed, each and every one on this site is trying as hard as possible to keep YOU from perishing, but unfortunately we CANNOT force you either. Still praying for you though. God bless and letting you argue with yourself now.

OK. Thanks for answering the question CF. I'm sorry to hear that you would let the miner die though.

Erik, you have asked an honest, but a somewhat challenging question, and I will attempt to answer you as well as I can. Here goes...Yes, if I had the strength to rescue the foolish miner, I would haul him out any way I could. But I think there is a great difference in phsically rescuing someone and having the power to spiritually rescue someone. When we attempt to explain a spiritual truth with an analogy from life , sooner or later the analogy breaks down or falls apart. That is the case here. But to make it a little more personal and show you my heart, I tell you true, if you were the stubborn miner, you might come out kicking and screaming, but come out you would! Changing a man's heart is a different matter: I don't have that power, but I believe that God loves you so deeply that he will continue to woo you
until you have drawn your last breath. I hurt for you!

Thanks, Graced. I agree that analogies only go so far.
It's good to know that you would save me even against my will. It shows that you have a lot of love in you. I think God does too.

Erik, you are certainly an interesting person being a bit obsessed by "force". I notice how you try to force an answer from CF. You try to force the Christians into a corner where the world will think we don't truly care about people. Don't you feel any shame in doing this to people who have over and over made it clear that we care about you and want the best for you? I believe in my heart that any of the regulars on this site would try their best to save a person who was in a situation that would lead to their death. I for one do not feel like I would have the strength to force a man to do anything. So the force question is a bit irrelevant. I believe Graced gave you a very good response. I hope you will be kind enough to give us the benefit of the doubt and accept that we would do our best to save someone but sometimes we are unable. I know you are thinking God is able so why doesn't He? Well, He is sovereign and His thoughts are above ours here on earth so I do not expect I will understand (at least while here on earth) why He allows everything He allows. Possibly sometimes there are some things worse than death and perhaps He knows when it is better to allow death. You think? I think God may someday answer your questions if you choose to walk with Him while here on earth. Praying for your best...and your realization that Christians do care deeply for the suffering in this world.

Janice: I can't force anybody to do anything. There are plenty of lurkers on this site who have read my question but are unwilling or unable to answer it. So be it. At least you have the courage to try.
I want to be clear though, we are not talking about death here. Read Bryant's devotion again.

Erik, I really don't mean this in a heroic or puffed up way, but I imagine that I would give my life probably even quicker than you would to save someone IF I could. I'm not afraid to die at all, never have been, but just not looking forward to the actual process. But in the case of the miner he was determined to live life his way and said he was going to make it out on his own. This is a totally different situation from someone incapable of doing anything for himself. He was able to walk out, but was just unwilling to. Even though they may be being foolish sometimes you have to respect the fact that a person has a free will and you just can't dictate to them how to live. If I could dictate I would not let anyone take illegal drugs, text or drive drunk, or even walk down a dark dangerous alley at night. Unfortunately I can't force them not to do these life threatening things if they insist on doing them. All I can do is be a witness to them of what is the best thing for them as we are all trying to be a witness to you on what is best for you. God bless

That's fine, CF. You don't have to defend it. You would respect the guy's decision and let him die. That's up to you.

Erik, I reread the devotion and Bryant makes it quite clear that Jesus is the only hope for salvation. What do you want Jesus to do for you that He hasn't already done?

I don't have to defend anything. You know in your heart what I'm saying. You hurt your own cause by twisting things so have at it. Like Janice said there is not much more anyone can do besides give their own life which Christ has already done for you. I've had my say, you've had yours I am truly moving on now, have fun. Still praying for you.

CF- do I misunderstand you? What have I twisted? You said you would respect a person's free will and let him die. The foolish miner is trapped. He is not able to "just walk out." But he doesn't want to be rescued. So you let him die. If that's not your position please clarify.

Folks, you continue to let Erik take our devotionals in directions that simply are not productive or relavant.

And, no Erik, I'm not going to bother arguing about the relavancy of your little question.

I am praying alongside you, CF. By the way, I thought the dance style known as the twist went out of style but I think Erik can do it quite well. Maybe one day we will see him Dancin' With the Stars! Truly, I hope to see him in heaven one day.

You're right Grant. Erik tends to do as some people do with the Bible and take only certain sentences or phrases and ignore what's up above and below the particular phrase or verse. I think the last three sentences of my comment is clarification enough and if it isn't, oh well. Unfortunately people choose to kill themselves in a lot of ways everyday in stupid ways and no one gets more frustrated about it than I do. Satan is good at tempting people with drugs, alcohol, and even food that is killing them. Sooo hard not being able to save people from themselves. But even sadder is when they are determined to turn away from God and miss his gift of salvation and eternal life. I agree Erik will have to argue with himself.

Okay, folks - much love and many blessings to each of you, but this devotion's comments are officially closed.