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Lesson 21
Christian and Hopeful came down from the mountains and walked again through level country. On the left of the highway lay a wide, flat country called Conceit. A crooked path led through this country and joined the highway where the two pilgrims walked. Here where the two ways joined, Christian and Hopeful met a young man coming briskly down the path. His name was Ignorance and he seemed very much satisfied with himself. As he fell into step with the two pilgrims, Christian asked him from what country he came and where he was going. “I come from this country that lies on your left,” he said, “and I am going to the Celestial City.” “But you did not come in by the gate,” objected Christian. “What have you to show at the gate of the city that will assure you entrance there?” “I pay all my honest debts,” replied the other, “and live as best I can. I pray often and give generously of my money to every worthy cause. I think the Lord will receive me.” “Oh, you are mistaken,” said Christian. “You must come to God in His own way, and that is by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the door. Coming as you do you will be considered a thief and a robber and will not be admitted to the Heavenly City.” “Indeed!” said Ignorance. “I do not know you gentlemen, or where you come from, but if you will take care of your own religion, I will take care of mine. I am quite satisfied with it. Why should I go all the way to the gate when this way pleases me more?” Then Hopeful suggested to Christian that they walk on and leave Ignorance to go by himself, and perhaps he would think about what they had said to him. Perhaps they could help him later. So Christian and Hopeful walked on together, with Ignorance following at some distance. Soon they came to a place where another little path joined the highway. A sign told them that this path was called Dead Man’s Lane.
“This is the place,” said Christian, “where Little-Faith had his sad experience. Have you heard the story?” “No, I haven’t,” answered Hopeful. “Tell me about it.” “Well,” said Christian, “he was a true believer. Although his faith was rather weak, yet it was true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and he was a pilgrim even as we are. He came from the town Sincere and was bound for the Celestial City. His first mistake was in traveling alone. Had he gone with some other pilgrim I do not doubt but that he would not have suffered what he did. But, as I said, he went alone and came to this very spot. He was very weary, and so here, by this signpost, he sat down to rest and fell asleep. While he was sleeping three brothers who are thieves and robbers came down Dead Man’s Lane. They saw him there and decided to part him from his possessions. Their names are Faint-Heart, Mistrust and Guilt. They are rogues and rascals if there ever were any. “The poor man was just awakening when the three of them came dashing up and demanded his money. He made no move to give it to them, and so they fell upon him. Mistrust thrust his hand into Little-Faith’s pocket and pulled out his bag of money. Little-Faith cried, “Thieves! Thieves!” This made the robbers angry and Guilt swung a great club he had and struck Little-Faith on the head. The one blow felled him, and he lay on the ground unconscious, bleeding as though he would bleed to death. The robbers looked upon him for a moment, and then hearing a noise upon the highway which they thought to be Great-Grace coming to Little-Faith’s assistance, they fled in haste. They had met Great-Grace before and did not care to encounter him again. “Soon Little-Faith regained consciousness and with some effort went slowly on his journey.” “Did they take everything he had?” asked Hopeful with sympathy. “No, he had some very valuable jewels with him. These they did not get. “Did they take his certificate that would grant him entrance at the gate of the city?” asked Hopeful. “No, that was secure,” replied Christian. “No one could ever take that.” “That must have been a real comfort to him as he went along,” said Hopeful. “And his jewels, too. Tell me about the jewels. What sort were they?” “There were seven of them,” said Christian. “They are such as every true Christian has, and they cannot be lost, stolen or given away. They are: 1. Eternal life 2. A place in God’s family, 3. A righteousness that meets God’s holy requirements, 4. A peace with God that can never be broken, 5. An acceptance before God’s holy throne, 6. An inheritance reserved in heaven 7. A title to a place there. They should have been a real comfort to little-Faith as he continued, but what Mistrust and Faint-Heart and Guilt had taken from him was the JOY OF HIS SALVATION and he was miserable without it. “Could he not somehow have had it restored to him?” asked Hopeful. “Yes, it has been done,” replied Christian. “David’s joy was also stolen by Guilt, and he cried to the Lord to restore it to him, and He did so; but not until after Guilt had been dealt with. David had to come into the presence of God and confess his sin and accept restoration on God’s terms. Peter also denied his Lord and lost his joy, and went out and wept bitterly. But, he too was restored after he had confessed his sin and accepted forgiveness. His joy thereafter was greater than before. “But Little-Faith did not do that. He continued to bemoan the riches he once had and the joy he had formerly known; and so he spent his life sorrowfully when he should have been rejoicing, for his sins were forgiven and he was on his way to the Celestial City. Thus un-confessed sin spoiled his life and his testimony. It is the same today. When one is saved by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ he cannot lose his salvation; he cannot lose his place in God’s family, or any of the other precious things which were left to Little-Faith. But if he allows Mistrust or Guilt to come into his life he will lose the joy of his salvation. If he would have it restored he must confess the doubt or sin to his Heavenly Father and be restored to fellowship with Him. Regarding this God says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
“Lord,
we our unbelief confess --J. G. Deck
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