One Of The Greatest Metaphors

There are many metaphors in the Bible. I'd mention one if I could think of one off hand! How about how Jesus said it'd be better to cut off your hand and throw it to the funeral pyre, than harm one of these little ones? Not meant to be a literal instruction, I'm sure. Or! Maybe it is literal instruction! That's the trouble with metaphor! A teaching tool, to teach a truth. God, it seems, teaches often using metaphor.

I've just recently realized that I believe "God's Wrath" to be metaphor!

There's a strong belief in me that God's wrath is more often than not, merely the natural consequences of man's own doings. After all, isn't this a grand lesson we are all learning? An unavoidable journey? If we are to be thinking, reacting, doing creatures that is?

Surely the study of God, and his book, the bible, is utterly fascinating! (Just have to get through the smokescreens..?)

Take care and God bless!

~ * ~

Streams Of Living Water

I was thinking today, about how glorious the all made new will be. How a part of the glory will be the earth made new, "wherein righteousness is to dwell". The physical universe. I was thinking about this as I was looking at a glorious tree this evening, with a glorious sunset behind it.

When I happen across the idea, I find myself rejecting it (strongly), the idea that we will be some sort of floating consciousness. If that's what God wanted, that's what He would have made. (Imho.)

Those heavenly creatures around His Throne, crying "Glory! glory! glory! To He who is, and who was and is to come".. Real creatures. I would be sad to think they are mere metaphor for some abstract mystery. Not that I don't believe in abstract mysteries! And maybe like all things they are metaphor.. (also). But I think people need a gospel and a promise they can get their teeth into.

I think the living water is first and foremost within. Refreshing and keeping "alive", renewed and inspired the soul/being/individual. But I also think it will be a literal river of crystal clear sparkling water(s) upon the planet made new. In the vicinity of which the lion will eat straw like the ox and the bear will graze with the cow. I also think His leading His own to springs of living water includes during critical apocalyptic days when he will lead His own to fresh water. (Artesian.)

Just One Thing

Sometimes I feel like the Lord taps me on the shoulder (metaphorically of course) and reminds me "it's the fruit of the Spirit I'm after.. my fruits of the Spirit in you, is all I want.."
- Lack of the fruit of the Spirit upon Earth is what lets the iron grow.. the hard stuff, the lack of human kindness things..

Life Is A Metaphor

It's a popular belief that Bible prophecy is merely metaphor. But to believe this is to miss two thirds of what it is God is doing. The Bible is wondrously and gloriously literal!
- Jesus lived, was crucified and was resurrected. His virgin birth demonstrates that the "firstborn of all creation" who "was with God" prior to his coming here, was that spotless lamb the Old Testament always prophesied. The "wages", result, and natural occurrence of imperfection may be death (decline, fading) but Jesus was not imperfect and states that he died in our place "so that where he is, we may be".
- Paradise (universal) is going to be literally restored to this planet. And "apocalypse", the unveiling of lies from truth (when untruth crashes) will literally precede it, teaching and demonstrating to all, the all important knowing of all good from evil, which is life from death.
- A second resurrection of all not yet reconciled to God will also literally occur, followed by a day (an age of 500 years) of the examining of all history and all lives, as to what went wrong; what works and what doesn't work so well.
- After all this, it's recorded all those not believing will die a second time and "the last enemy vanquished will be death".