Lesson 9

Pilgrim's Progress, continued

After Christian left the Cross he found travel much easier than before because his burden was gone.  He had journeyed only a short distance when he saw three men with their feet in chains, sleeping, beside the way.

Their names were Simple, (dull in mind), Sloth (lazy), and Presumption (takes things for granted).  Ah, he thought, they are in the same condition I  once was.  Here is an opportunity to help someone even as I was helped. So he went near and awakened them with an offer to help.  He warned them of their danger.  "Come away and I will help you with your irons! They looked at him sleepily and told him to mind his own affairs.  "We are in no danger!"  Then they fell asleep again.  There was nothing for Christian to do but to go on his way and leave them.

Later, he met two men.  Their names were Formalist  (ceremony) and Hypocrisy (pretending to be what one is not).  They came tumbling over the wall on the left hand side of the Narrow Way.  "Gentlemen, where did you come from and where are you going?"  "We were born in the land of Vainglory and are seeking our fame and fortune in the Celestial City."   He talked with them for a short time.  "Oh, you think you are better than we are.  We would rather go alone than listen to you."

Christian did not think he was better than they.  He knew he was only a guilty, lost sinner saved by the grace of God, and he wanted to tell them of God's perfect way of salvation; but if they did not want to listen, he could not force them to pay attention, so he left them also and continued his journey.

 Often as he walked along he read from the roll which had been given him at the Cross and he was always comforted and blessed by it.

Soon his way led over a hill called Difficulty. 

At the foot of the hill were two other roads; one went around the hill on the right, and the other on the left.  Christian remembered Goodwill's instruction about choosing the right road, and so he considered them carefully.  The road on the right looked more comfortable than the one which led over the hill, but it was not straight, so Christian knew he did not want to take that one.  The road to the left also looked pleasant and inviting, but it was very broad and Goodwill had told him to keep on the straight and narrow way; so he turned away from that one also and chose the little road that led over the hill.

The going was hard.  At first Christian was so eager to get over the hill that he ran, but as he grew more tired and breathing became more difficult, he slowed to a walk.  Before long even walking exhausted him.  Did he turn back?  Not Christian!  He got on his hands and knees and crawled up the hill!

About half way up the hill he had a pleasant surprise.  There he found a shady arbor built by the Lord of the Celestial City for the refreshment of travelers and pilgrims.  How glad Christian was to sit and rest!  He pulled his roll from his pocket and read comforting words from the Lord.  He thought he would rest a while and then hurry on, but his eyes began to blink, then his head began to nod, and without realizing what was happening, Christian fell fast asleep.

As he slept the precious roll slipped from his fingers and rolled beneath the seat, but Christian slept.

Suddenly a voice seemed to be speaking in his ear, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." 

Christian awoke with a start.  How foolish he had been to sleep away the hours.  Now he must hurry for it would soon be night.  He hurried up the hill trying to make up for lost time.  As he neared the top of the hill he met two men running down the hill in the direction from which he had come.  "What is the trouble?" asked Christian.  "You are going in the wrong direction."

"Oh," answered one, whose name was Timorous, (afraid) "we were going to the Celestial City, but the way became more difficult the farther we went, so we decided to go back."

"Yes," added his companion, Mistrust (not trusting), "You had better go back, too.  We saw lions in the way ahead of us.  Whether they were asleep or awake we could not tell."

Christian considered the situation.  If he went on he might meet danger and even death, but beyond was everlasting life.  Without hesitation he continued his journey while the two men he had met hurried down the hill.  As he thought about the things they had said, he felt the need for the comfort and strength he always received from the Word of the Lord, and so he felt for his roll to read as he had often done before.  But he stopped in dismay.  His roll was gone!  What could have happened to it?  He remembered the arbor where he had slept and wondered if he had lost it there.

He realized that he had not only been foolish but that he had actually sinned by wasting his time there.  So first he asked God's forgiveness for his foolishness, and then he retraced his steps.  As he walked he looked carefully on each side of him, hoping always to see the roll, and scolding himself continually for having been so lazy.

But he looked in vain, for he retraced his steps all the way to the arbor without finding the lost roll.  When he reached the place where he had rested and slept, he sat down and cried because he was so unhappy.  But crying would not help him, so he began to search diligently for his lost treasure.  He knew it was a treasure, and having lost it, he valued it more than ever.

With a cry of joy he saw it under the bench where it had fallen while he slept.. He reached for it eagerly and gathered it closely to his heart.  Then, kneeling, he thanked God that he had found the roll.

He began again to make his way up the Hill Difficulty.   The sun set and Christian knew that darkness would soon come.  He thought of the lions which Timorous and Mistrust had said they had seen.  Sadly he regretted the hours he had wasted at the arbor and the time he had lost while he retraced his steps.

As these thoughts were troubling him he lifted his eyes to scan the way ahead, and saw, not far away, a beautiful palace.  Surely he could rest and sleep there for the night.

We have the same precious message that Christian had in his roll.  Today it is contained in a book instead of a roll or scroll.  It is the Bible, the Word of God.  I am sure we do not realize how very valuable and precious it is.  It is God's message to us and tells us of His love and His salvation.

The very best place to keep it is in our hearts.   Long ago, David, the great king of Israel, said, "Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11)  When it is hidden in our hearts we cannot possibly lose it as Christian lost his roll.  That is the reason boys and girls learn memory verses.  We must not only guard and read the Bible but believe it and make it our own.  It will help and guide us and when we meet Timorous and Mistrust, and they tell us of dangers ahead of us they will not be able to frighten and discourage us if we are trusting in God's unfailing Word and His faithfulness.

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