Lesson 19

Safely across the stile once more, Christian and Hopeful wanted to set up a warning to other pilgrims who might be in danger of crossing over into the meadow and becoming captives of Giant Despair in Doubting Castle.  They considered various ideas and decided to erect a pillar beside the stile.  On it they wrote:

It is said that many pilgrims who have traveled that way since that time have heeded the warning and escaped the danger. 

They soon came to the Delectable Mountains which Christian had seen in the distance while he was at the Palace Beautiful.  They were even more beautiful and fruitful than they had appeared to him then.  There were beautiful gardens and fruitful orchards; vineyards were rich with sweet, ripe fruit and the way was shady and pleasant.  There were also fountains of clear water from which they drank, and where they bathed and refreshed themselves.

As they went into the mountains they met shepherds tending sheep.  The shepherds gave them a friendly greeting, and when they found that they were pilgrims going from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City they welcomed them warmly and told them that the good things of the mountains were for their benefit.  They were free to enjoy everything there.

While Christian and Hopeful were delighting in the orchards and the gardens, the shepherds prepared their evening meal and soon called the travelers to eat with them.  Soon after they had eaten, their hosts showed them where they could sleep for the night, so they went to rest.  How thankful they were for this kind and loving treatment after their dreadful experience at Doubting Castle!

In the morning the shepherds proposed that Christian and Hopeful accompany them to the hills.  The two pilgrims were very glad to do this.  The first hill they came to was called Error Hill.

"Here," said one of the shepherds, whose name was Knowledge, "we will show you some strange sights."

Then they climbed together to the brow of the hill.  There Christian and Hopeful stopped in alarm for the other side of the hill was a sheer precipice.

"Look over the edge," said the shepherd.

So Christian and Hopeful stood cautiously back from the steep decline and peered into the valley below.  They drew back in horror and trembled at the sight which met their eyes.  Far down on the rocks below were the broken bodies and the bleached bones of many who, through-out the years, had fallen headlong over the brink and been dashed to pieces at the foot of the hill.

"Oh," exclaimed Christian, "that is terrible! Why have you showed us this awful sight?"

"To show you the result of following false guides," answered one of the shepherds.  "There was once a man who taught that there is no resurrection; that when a person dies, that is the end of him.  He led a great company of people over this Error Hill and perished with them on the rocks below.

"Have they all gone over in companies?" asked Hopeful.

"No, many have gone over without a guide.  Walking alone upon the mountain, they have come to the brow of this hill in the darkness and not seeing their danger, have gone over.  But the greater number of them have been led over by someone who posed as a guide, but who is reality did not know the way of life."

"Tell us of some of the other parties who were lost," encouraged Christian.

"Well," continued the shepherd, "a great many have been led to their destruction by those who teach that one must keep the law to be saved.  They do not know that God has said, 'Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.' "

"Many are led to their death by those who say man will have another opportunity to be saved after he dies.  Then if he does not accept God's salvation he will be annihilated.  That teaching has taken many over the hill to their death!"

Christian and Hopeful knew that the shepherd spoke the truth.  They knew that all these false teachings keep men and women and boys and girls from believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and being saved.

"But is there no way that one can tell whether a guide is false or not?" asked Christian.

"Yes, there is," replied the shepherd, "but few take the time or the trouble to find out if they are true or false:

1.  If they are true guides, they will always agree with the inspired Word of God.

2.  They will always give the Lord Jesus Christ His rightful place as the eternal Son of God who willingly took upon Himself the form of man; who was born without sin, and lived without sin but upon the cross was charged with the sin of the world; who died and was buried and rose again, bringing eternal life and hope to all who believe in Him.

3.  If they are wrong on any of these things they are not to be trusted at all."

"That is the true test," agreed the two pilgrims.

We should test every guide that would try to lead us in spiritual things to see if he be true or false.  We should remember that false guides lead only to destruction, and we must not believe them.  True guides are like the shepherds whose names were Watchful, Experience, Knowledge and Sincere.  They will be a blessing to those who follow them as these shepherds were to Christian and Hopeful.

"With foes and snares around me,
And lusts and fears within,
The grace that sought and found me,
Alone can keep me clean."

--J. G. Deck