DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- GOOD-WILL

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – GOOD-WILL

" 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' " (Luke 2:14)

"So after a little while, Christian arrived at the gate. Now over the gate there was written, 'Knock, and it will be opened to you.' Christian knocked more than once or twice, saying, 'May I now enter?' ….. At last a very serious person came to the gate whose name was Good-Will."

After being delivered from Morality and Legality, Pilgrim continued his journey to the narrow gate. When he arrived, he knocked at the door several times. Finally, Good-Will opened the gate and asked what Pilgrim wanted. Pilgrim replied, "I come from the City of Destruction, but I am going to Mount Zion, so that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I am informed that through this gate is the way to safety, and I want to know if you are willing to let me in!" Good-will answered, "I am willing with all my heart," and with that he opened the gate. Pilgrim wanted to be free from his burden, but even though he had entered the gate, Goodwill told him to continue his journey until he came to the place of deliverance. But he needed to go a ways further and meet another person on the way.

Everyone must go through the narrow gate. There is no other way to get to the Celestial City. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate … narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Goodwill opened the gate to let him in because it is the Father's good pleasure to bring people into His kingdom (Luke 7:32). He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance (II Peter 3:9). To get through that gate, one must be like Pilgrim, confessing that he or she is a sinner, an undeserving rebel. That is the criterion for entering the gate. The Father's good will receives the repentant person with all His heart.

Love, Dad