If you’ve read any of my stories, you know I’m a big fan of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. His stories are full of wisdom, designed to make you think while offering a sense of hope.

One of my favorite episodes is called The Hunt. It centers on a man named Mr. Simpson, who lives with his wife and his beloved dog, Rip.

Rip went everywhere Mr. Simpson went. The two were inseparable. In the episode, Rip chases a raccoon into a river, and Mr. Simpson goes after him. Both drown and awaken in the afterlife.

As they walk along a road, they come upon a place that appears to be heaven. Yet there is something unsettling about it. Rip senses it immediately and begins barking. To make matters worse, the dog is not permitted to enter with his master.

Disturbed by this, Mr. Simpson decides to keep walking. He is determined not to go anywhere that won’t allow his dog to accompany him. After traveling a while longer, he arrives at another place, one where he immediately feels welcomed and at peace.

As he speaks with the man standing at the entrance, he discovers that the place he passed earlier was actually hell and that he is now standing at the gates of heaven. Even Rip is visibly excited. The man at the gate, who is revealed to be an angel, listens to Mr. Simpson’s story and then tells him:

“A man, well, he’ll walk right into hell with his eyes both open. But even the devil can’t fool a dog.”

This profound quote comes from Earl Hamner Jr., who wrote several episodes of The Twilight Zone.

You see, the dog smelled the brimstone and sensed the danger. He growled and barked, warning his master. And Mr. Simpson’s loyalty to his dog would not allow him to leave him behind.

In some ways, it’s reminiscent of how Christians live today. We are part of the world, yet we are called to separate ourselves from its worldliness. Too often, we compromise. We make small concessions, and after a while, we no longer realize how far we’ve drifted. Sometimes it is only that one thing to which we remain loyal that keeps us from falling completely into oblivion.

That “one thing” is the Bible.

It provides discernment and protection from the dangers of this world. It offers hope when circumstances tempt us to despair.

For Mr. Simpson, Rip was the voice that warned him away from destruction.

For Christians, God’s Word serves that purpose.

 And ultimately, it is that guidance and hope that lead us safely home for all eternity.

And where there’s hope, there’s a way.