DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE CELESTIAL CITY

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE CELESTIAL CITY

"And as it is appointed for men to die once…..." (Hebrews 9:27a)

"So I saw in my dream that they went on together until they came withing sight of the gate. Now between them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep. At the sight of this river, the pilgrims were stunned. Then the men who went with them said, 'You must go through the river or you cannot enter into the City at the gate.' "

Christian and Hopeful came to a river that they had to cross before they could get to the Celestial City. It was a deep river with no way to avoid going through it, and they had to go through it alone. They asked if there was any other way to get to the gate of the City, and the angels told them that there were only two men in history who did not go through the river – Enoch and Elijah. As they waded into the river, Christian began to sink. He cried out in despair and Hopeful helped him through the waters. After crossing the river, they were welcomed into the beautiful City because of the certificates they had received at the beginning of their journeys, and they entered into the joy of the Lord and all the glories of Heaven.

There's an old saying: Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die. But the fact remains that the mortality rate is 100%. No one is exempt. The last lap of the race can be the hardest. But the final destination will be worth everything that we have endured in our pilgrimage through in this life and through the river of death. As the old song says, "It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase. So, bravely run the race 'til we see Christ." "Won't it be wonderful there, having no burdens to bear. Joyously singing with heartbells all ringing, O won't it be wonderful there." Doesn't it make you want to go there?

This is the final chapter of Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress." Now, as they say on television, we will return to our regular programming.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- BEULAH

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – BEULAH

"You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of the your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken. Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate. But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married" (Isaiah 62:3-4).

"Now I saw in my dream that by this time the pilgrims had passed over the Enchanted Ground and entered into the country of Beulah …. Here they were within sight of the City to which they were going."

Christian and Hopeful were nearing the Celestial City when they came to Beulah. The name Beulah is used only once in the Bible, and the reference in Isaiah is about the city of Jerusalem in the end times. Bunyan used this as a metaphor of the time in the Pilgrims' lives just before they go to heaven – the end of their time here on earth. It is a wonderful time beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and where the Giant Despair is no longer a threat. This is a glorious time in life when all of the challenges and trials of the Christian life are past. Here on the edge of heaven the birds sing, the sun shines night and day, the flowers are beautiful, and the Shining Ones (angels) walk. In the words of Isaiah, no longer will Pilgrims feel forsaken or desolate. The term Hephzibah means "my delight is in her," and Beulah (baal, used twice in this verse as "Beulah" and "married") means "to marry or be married." In this land of comfort, the lovers find their delight in each other grows. The New Living Translation translates this verse: "Your new name will be "The City of God's Delight" and "The Bride of God," for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his bride."

There comes a time in the Christian's life when he rests in the Lord. The battles and tribulations of the Christian life are over. The love-relationship flourishes, and he relaxes in the love of Jesus, His Bridegroom. I confess that I have not yet reached Beulah, but I must say that, even though I experience challenges, they are not as intense as they once were. I am resting in the love of my Savior. I know that soon I will cross the River, and I am convinced that as I draw nearer to it, I will discover even more of the delightful land of Beulah. For now, I am just entering that land. I do know the joy and peace of trusting Jesus completely. He is a wonderful Savior.

We used to sing an old song, "Beulah Land." The chorus of the song says, "O Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land, as on the highest mount I stand. I look away across the sea where mansions are prepared for me, and view the shining glory shore, my heaven, my home, forevermore." I think that this is the essence of what Bunyan was writing. The closer I get to heaven, the clearer the view.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- BELIEF VERSUS FAITH

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – BELIEF VERSUS FAITH

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

"Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4).

"I then saw in my dream that Hopeful looked back and noticed Ignorance, whom they had left behind, still following them."

Christian and Hopeful again interacted with Ignorance. In their discussion with Ignorance, it became apparent that he had correct belief in doctrine regarding the facts of Christ's death on the cross, but he had never come to the place of putting his total personal faith in Christ alone for salvation. He believed that Jesus died for sin, but he also believed that his good works were also necessary for salvation. There is a difference between belief and faith. Belief is a prerequisite to faith, but faith is active, intentional trust. I can believe that my car will start, but trust is turning the key. No matter how much I believe, it will not happen until I take an active step of faith. As James wrote, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). A person can believe all the correct things regarding Christ and still not receive by faith the salvation that comes from completely trusting in Christ's sacrifice. It is pride that thinks that I can add anything to what Jesus did on the cross. My belief in my own ability to live a good life keeps me from living by faith in the sole provision of Christ. Thinking that I can provide anything towards my salvation detracts from the atonement provided by Christ. The just do not live by their belief, but by their faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17). Belief is inactive until it is energized by faith. Living by faith is not trusting my good works but the gift of God, which is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

I am so glad that my salvation does not depend on my good works, because I could never live good enough to merit or earn God's approval. Only salvation through Christ can save me. I live in that faith.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- SLEEPINESS

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – SLEEPINESS

"You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night…." (I Thessalonians 5:5-7a).

"Then I saw in my dream that they continued their journey until they came into a region where the air naturally induced sleepiness if one was not acclimated to it. Here, Hopeful began to grow very sluggish and sleepy. 'Do you recall that one of the shepherds told us to beware of the Enchanted Ground?' Christian inquired."

There is a possibility that the believer will be lulled into a sense of comfort and complacency. The issues of righteousness no longer stir him. His eyelids become heavy and he closes his eyes to the evil in the world around him. He becomes tired to the journey and just wants to get to a Motel 6 (or a Marriott). A sleeping Christian does not care that the world around him is going into eternity without Christ. Sleep overtakes him because he is just plain worn out. Satan would love to have Christians sleep – just dreamily floating through life, because people who sleep are not engaged in the battle.

It is true that we all need to rest. But I have heard that soldiers in battle sleep with one ear open. They are alert to any noise that would indicate impending danger. We are in a war and it is dangerous for us to sleep through the battle with our heads in the ground like an Ostrich. It is especially important for the sentry – the "watchman on the wall" (Ezekiel 3:17; Isaiah 21;11-12) – to stay alert. Jesus said to "Watch and Pray." I can't be alert if my eyes are closed in sleep. Take some Dramamine if need be, but for the future of my soul, I must stay awake. "Be vigilant (watchful), because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion..." (I Peter 5:8

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- ATHEIST

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – ATHEIST

"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God' " (Psalm 14:1)

"Now after a while, they saw a man afar off coming toward them. He was traveling alone. Then Christian said to Hopeful, 'Look, a man with his back toward Zion is coming to meet us.' … So he drew nearer and at last met up with them. His name was Atheist, and he asked them were they were going."

When Atheist learned that Christian and Hopeful were traveling to the Celestial City, he ridiculed them and laughed, claiming that he had searched for many years and had come to the conclusion that there was no such place. He determined that the only pleasure to be found was in this life.

There are several kinds of Atheists. One denies the existence of the Spiritual realm – God, Heaven, and the Gospel. In his delusion, he considers people who believe in God to be ignorant. The other kind of Atheist is the one who says he believes in God but does not live like it. I call him a "practical atheist." But God says that the Atheist is a fool. A fool is someone who sees the evidence but denies the truth of the evidence. They are like the Russian Cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, who claimed that he went into space and did not see God. One only has to have open eyes and open mind to see the order of Creation to know that there has to be a Creator. Anyone who sees this evidence and denies it is a fool.

The Atheist that Christian and Hopeful met said he had searched for God, but had clearly had ignored the evidence. He was the ignorant one – not the Pilgrims.

I believe in God, not only because of evidence of the General Revelation of Creation, but also because of the Special Revelation of the Bible and the Lord Jesus. The evidence of the universe and of history is on the side of the Believer. To deny that evidence is true ignorance.

Love, Dad

DAD;S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- FLATTERY

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – FLATTERY

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

"Christian and Hopeful continued on their journey. They continued on until there was a fork in the road. As they looked down each path, both appeared to be as straight as the other. They did not know which way to go."

They stood at the fork in the road, trying to decide which way to take, forgetting that the Shepherds in the Delectable Mountains had given them a map to follow, and warned them to beware of Flattery and the Enchanted Ground.

While trying to determine which route to travel, a dark-complected man in a white robe came to them, who said he was also going to the Celestial City, and that they should follow him. Before they knew it, they were led into a net – a trap from which they could not free themselves. With that the white robe fell off the man's back to reveal that he was "an angel of light" – the Flatterer. Then they understood the proverb, "A man that flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet" (Proverbs 29:5).

As they struggled in the net, a Shining One came and released them from the snare.

Flattery feels good because it appeals to our pride and our ego. Satan flatters us into thinking that we are smart enough to make our own decisions -- that we don't need to listen to the Bible or godly counsel. So we fall prey to flattery and end up in the web of pride. When we recognize our prideful spirit, we can experience the freedom of humility. "Be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (I Peter 5:5-6). Humility causes us to listen to the advice of others. Pride ignores godly counsel.

It is a downward slope from listening to flattery to pride to the snare of thinking that we are better than we are. "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to thin but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3). There is a difference between acknowledging the gifts that God has given to me that gives God the credit, and a puffed up ego that is proud of my abilities and takes the credit for my own. One focuses on God who gave them and the other focuses on me.

Love, Dad

DAD;S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE THIEVES

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE THIEVES

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

"Then said Christian to his friend, Hopeful, 'Now I remember something I was told about a good man who once lived in these parts. Then name of the man was Little Faith. He was a good man, and he lived in the town of Sincere."

This is the story that was told of Little Faith. As he was traveling on the road to the Celestial City, he was accosted by three brothers, Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt, who robbed him of everything except his Certificate that guaranteed entrance to the Celestial City. He was still a Christian, but having been beaten and robbed of all his precious jewels, he went on his journey, but without sustenance. So he had to beg, and lived mal-nourished. He had lost his joy and spent the rest of the time on his journey bitterly complaining, telling everyone how he was robbed, and wounded, and left for dead.

I have met people who have no joy in their Christian walk, and in fact, have been in their shoes. They can only talk of how hard it is to be a Christian. Satan's henchmen – like Guilt – rob people of their peace, their joy, and their confidence in God. Jesus has come to bring life abundant, but the enemy wants to steal our abundant life. To live without peace and joy is a miserable existence. Jesus has promised: "These things I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11), and "My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give unto you" (John 14:27). We can live with His joy and peace if we do not allow the enemy to steal them.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE GIANT OF DESPAIR

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE GIANT OF DESPAIR

"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You…." (Psalm 42:5-6a).

"But despite the risk, they began tracing their steps back to where they had first entered the wrong path. After nearly a dozen near-drowning, and because the darkness made it impossible to see anything, they decided to find a place of shelter where they could wait out the storm until daybreak. Not far from the place where they lay sleeping stood a castle called Doubting Castle. The owner of this castle was Giant Despair, and it was on his grounds that they were now sleeping."

While trying to return to the God-path, they had to cross the land of Giant Despair. While they sleeping, Giant Despair discovered them trespassing on his property, and he took them into captivity and took them to his Doubting Castle. There he beat them mercilessly for several days and they were unable to escape. At the urging of his wife, whose name was Distrust, Giant urged Christian and Hopeful to commit suicide to get out of their terrible situation. They discussed it at length between themselves, and finally decided it was better to die in despair than to violate God's commandment forbidding murder. In the end, Christian remembered that he had a key to escape Doubting Castle. The key was called Promise which would give them liberty from the prison of despair. That key opened the gates that confined them, and they walked out – though beaten and sore – to liberty and they were able to return to the King's Highway.

Satan would love to keep us in the prison of despair, discouragement, and condemnation in his castle. He beats us up with condemnation – that we have not lived up to our faith. The prison of despair keeps us in chains, and it seems that the only way out is death…. until we remember the promises of God – the mercy of His forgiveness, the hope of deliverance, and our destination of heaven. Condemnation is a power tool of Satan, but God says that "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1-2). This Scripture follows the condemnation that Paul experienced in Chapter 7 – that he could not live up to God's standard. He did what he did not want to do, and did not do what he knew he should. We hear the self-condemnation is verses 34: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ." This was probably one of the promises that Christian used to unlock the bondage of condemnation. Thank God for His promises!

Have a "freedom" day.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE DELECTICAL MOUNTIANS

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS

"Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3)

"They continued on their path until they came to the Delectable Mountains, which belong to the Lord….Now on the top of these mountains shepherds were feeding their flocks, and they stood by the side of the highway….They asked, 'Whose Delectable Mountains are these? And whose sheep are these that are pasturing the mountain?' A shepherd answered, 'There mountains are Immanuel's Land, and they are within sight of His City. The sheep are also His, and He laid down His life for them.' "

The Delectable Mountains were within eye-shot of the Celestial City. But there was more to come in their journey. The shepherds were called Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, and they gave some warnings of things on their future walk that Christian and Hopeful needed to beware of. The first was the hill called Error which had a very steep cliff from which some Pilgrims had fallen. Another hill was called Caution, where they saw blind men walking in a cemetery. Another hill had a door which was called Byway to Hell. Before they continued on their way, the shepherds took Christian and Hopeful to another hill from which they could see the Celestial City. As they left the company of shepherds, Knowledge gave them a map so they could avoid the bad places, Experience warned them to beware of Flatterer, Watchful warned them to avoid the Enchanted Ground, and Sincere wished them Godspeed. So they continued their journey.

Nearing the Celestial City does not mean that there will be no further challenges. It is true that Knowledge and Experience help avoid certain pitfalls. But regardless of how long a person has walked with the Lord Jesus, there will still be pitfalls to be Watchful for. That's why God says to "walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise" – keeping an eye out and looking around (Ephesians 5:15). The word "circumspect" is composed of two words: circum meaning "around," and spect, which has to do with vision (as spectacles). As Pilgrims, we need to walk with eyes wide open – alert and attentive to our surroundings.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE DECEIT OF CONCEIT

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE DECEIT OF CONCEIT

"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him" (Proverbs 26:12)

"I slept again, and I dreamed I saw the same two pilgrims going down the mountains along the highway toward the Celestial City. Now a little below these mountains on the left-hand side lies the country of Conceit. From this country meandered a twisting but pleasant green lane that joined the pilgrims' highway. It was here that Christian and Hopeful met a very brisk lad who was coming out of that country. His name was Ignorance."

Conceit is the act of looking good in one's own eyes. He gets up in the morning and looks in the mirror, and says to himself, "I think I'm pretty good !" The King James Version translates the word for "conceit" as "in his own eyes." The Hebrew word merely means "eye." He looks pretty good "in his own eyes." That man is worse than a fool. It is a sign of ignorance to overestimate one's personhood.

In Bunyan's tale, he is referring to the person who thinks that he does not need Jesus, the Bible, Salvation, or anything else. He thinks he is pretty good. As Bunyan put it, "I pay every man what I owe him; I pray and fast, I pay tithes and give alms." He is ignorant of the understanding that all have sinned, and we all need a Savior. In his pride, he thinks he is good enough the way he is. He certainly does not need to go through the straight gate to the cross. He thinks his own religion is good enough.

He is content to follow the religion of his own country. We call it "civil religion." Civil religion leads many people astray because it deceives them into feeling that as long as they are good people, that is all that is needed to go to the Celestial City. But God says that there is only one way to get to heaven, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. There must be an acknowledgment of the fact that I am not good enough to get to heaven on my own merit. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5).

I need to beware of the deceit of conceit.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIMS'S PROGRESS -- THE RETURN

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE RETURN

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it' " (Isaiah 30:21).

"Just then they heard an encouraging voice say, 'Set your heart toward the highway, even the way that you went; turn again.' But by this time the waters had risen, making it very dangerous to go back the way they had come. I thought then that it is easier to go out of the way that we are on than to go back onto it when we are off the way."

It is difficult to turn the ship around when it is going in the wrong direction for several reasons. One reason is that it hard to admit that I made a mistake. To repent and change directions means I have to acknowledge that I made a mistake in the first place, and that is hard on my ego. Shame keeps me from admitting my failures and correcting my course to go back to the right path.

Another reason is that once I become accustomed to a certain way of life, it is a challenge to break from those life-patterns and return to the straight path. That is why it is sometimes difficult for a new believer to get rid of old habits and create a different way of living. Once habits are formed and a direction is set, it is hard to break them.

Here's the truth. I can't just hop back over the fence to the straight life. There are thing that must happen, like confession of sin, repentance, and repairing broken relationships that I have been caused by my sin, and sometimes suffering through the consequences of my willfulness.

The best cure is prevention. As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Not leaving the straight path in the first place will erase the necessity of backtracking to the main road. But if I do stray off the straight path, I'm so glad for His mercy and grace, and that He speaks to my conscience when I stray from His path. God always welcomes me back to His way when I acknowledge my error.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- VAIL-CONFIDENCE

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – VAIN-CONFIDENCE

"For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3)

"After they had started walking on the new path [into By-Path Meadow], they found it very easy on their feet, and looking ahead, they saw a man walking in the same direction they were going. His name was Vain-Confidence."

Vain-Confidence is the person who puts his trust in himself. He thinks that his was is better than God's Way. He places his faith in his own reasoning, his own abilities, his own strength, his own ingenuity. "I can do it" is his motto. His confidence is in himself and what he can do rather than in God. But eventually, Vain-Confidence falls into a pit. As the hymn "Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus" says, "The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own." It is an empty confidence that trusts myself, my abilities and my works, rather than trusting God, because my own fleshly attempts will eventually fail. The Psalmist declared, "In You, O LORD, I put my trust….You are my rock and my fortress" (Psalm 71:1a, 3c). I do not trust myself. This does not mean that I don't do anything.  It means that I do what I can do to the best of my ability and then put the results in God's hands. My trust and confidence is in the Lord God. So, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE EASY WAY

PILGRIMS PROGRESS – THE EASY WAY

"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You want" (Matthew 26:39).

"Now I saw in my dream that they had not journeyed far before the river parted away from their path. As their path proceeded away from the river, it became rough, and their feet were sore from their travels. Soon they saw a little way ahead of them a pleasant-looking field called By-Path Meadow."

Christian and Hopeful noticed that there was a smooth path on the other side of the fence that paralleled the path they were on. It looked so much easier walking and there was a stile over the fence. Christian thought it would be a better path. Hopeful was not so sure. "What if the path should lead us out of the way?" asked Christian. "That is not likely. Look, doesn't it go right next to our present path?" So Hopeful was persuaded by Christian to cross the fence and go into By-Path Meadow.

It is so tempting to take the easy way when the path become more difficult. The way is not always easy. We get tired, and our feet are sore. The straight and narrow path can become arduous. But there are dangers that lie along the easy path, as we shall see.

I'm so glad that Jesus did not take the easy path. He could have avoided the rough road to Calvary. But to fulfill God's plan, He had to take the hard road. He prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane to find another way. Yet, "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2).

It is not always easy to say "no" to the easy road that pampers the desires of the flesh and luxury of the easy life. But there are rewards for being committed to walking God's way – "Not as I will, but as You want."

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS --

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – R AND R

"Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke Is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

"Then I saw that they went on their way to a pleasant river that King David called 'the river of God' and Saint John called 'the river of the water of life.' Now since their path lay on the bank of this river, Christian and Hopeful walked with great delight and also drank of the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits."

Lest one get the idea that the Christian life is one long struggle and is always hard, Bunyan provided a respite for Christian and Hopeful. We all need these times of R and R in our journey to Heaven. Even in the times of challenge, there can be a sense of rest as we find our peace in Christ. On either side of this river were trees that produced all kinds of fruit, and the leaves were good for healing, and they were refreshed as they ate of these good fruit. It was a good and pleasant place.

However, I cannot think that all I need is to have a revival meeting once in a while. I need to be renewed in my spirit daily. Sunday church services are good, but I need to be fed and refreshed each day by drinking at God's river and feeding on His Word. "Lord, You know I need a brand new touch; my strength from yesterday is gone. But if You'll give me, Lord, another touch, I'll have the strength to carry on." (Lanny Wolfe) My trust in in the Lord's strength.

Even in the challenging times of life, we can live in God's rest. "There remains a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:9-10). "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7). I can rest in Him because He is trustworthy and faithful.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLNGS -- THE EASY WAY

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE EASY WAY

"...Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica…." (II Timothy 4:10).

"Then Christian and Hopeful left them again and walked until they came to a smooth plain called Ease, where they traveled with much contentment. The plain was quite small; so they went quickly through it. Now on the far side of that plain was a little hill called Lucre, and in that hill here was a silver mine, which some of the pilgrims had turned aside to see. Then I saw in my dream a little off the road, over by the silver mine, stood the gentlemanly Demas calling to passersby to come and see."

The lures to get Pilgrim to wander off the straight path are an ever-present temptation. If it seems that Bunyan is obsessed with the temptation of this world's goods (see DR 071020), it is because it is one of the main lures. In the Scriptures, Demas was one of those who got sidetracked, lured away by the things of this present world (II Timothy 4:10). Demas was a believer who is mentioned in two other places in Paul's letters as a fellow-laborer (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24). But somewhere along the line, his love for the world captured his heart. In the King James, the Greek word lucre means more than just money. It is a word that combines "filthy" with "gain." It is dirty money. God is not against His people having money. It is the "dirty" money that is the problem, perhaps from dishonest dealings or indicating greed or excess love of money (I Timothy 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7; I Peter 5:2). The NKJV captures this thought in Titus 1:11, where it translates the Greek word "dishonest gain." Many a Believer has been lured away from the path by their love of material things. Bunyan calls it a pit to be avoided. Many have fallen into the pit. In his naivety, Hopeful would have succumbed to the call of Demas, but for the wisdom of Christian.

God is not against us being prosperous. It is when that becomes our purpose, goal, and affection. Wisdom in our use of money will keep us from falling into the pit.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- LOVE OF THINGS

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – LOVE OF THINGS

"Do not love the things of the world or the things in the world….The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (I John 2:15a, 17).

"And He (Jesus) said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15)

"Now I saw in my dream that Christian and Hopeful forsook him and kept a good distance ahead of him. After a while Christian looked back and saw three men following Mr. By-ends. And as they came up to him, he greeted them with a low bow and they gave him a compliment. The men's names were Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr. Money-love, and Mr. Save-all. They were school fellows and were taught by one Mr. Gripe-man. They had gone to school in Love-gain, which is a market town in the county of Coveting to the north."

These people are those who have set their affections on the things of this world. In their school, they were taught the art of getting, either by violence, fraud, flattery, lying, or putting on a guise of religion, and they had all become proficient in their careers, so much so that they each started their own school.

There is always the temptation for the Pilgrim to become enamored by the things of this world. Covetousness will sidetrack the Pilgrim and slow down his journey. Even ministers can fall into this trap, as Bunyan tells it. Ministers can be sidetracked by the lure of a larger congregation with a larger salary, or the prestige that comes by being a "successful" preacher. The covetous person can justify his actions by quoting Scripture (God wants us to be blessed and prosperous and have greater opportunity to share the Gospel), but the motive is what God looks at.

God says, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (I Timothy 6:10). It is not money, but the love of money, that is the root of all kinds of evil, and it will cause one to get off the straight path, and also bring much grief, pain, and sorrow.

O, Lord God, help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and His cross, and things that really matter.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- BY-ENDS

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – BY-ENDS FROM FAIR-SPEECH

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27)

"So I saw in my dream that soon after they had left the fair, they overtook a man walking ahead of them whose name was By-ends. So they said to him, 'What country are you from, sir, and how far are you going on this way?' He told them that he came from the town of Fair-speech and that he was going to the CelestiaL City but he did not tell them his name."

The town of Fair-speech was inhabited by rich and famous people. Among the residents were Lord Turn-about, Lord Time-server, and Lord Fair-speech, Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Anything, and Lady Feigning. The pastor of the local church was Mr. Two-tongues. Here Bunyan was identifying people who put on a good show, but their speech is deceitful. They do what looks and sounds good, but they are belied by the way they change to fit the circumstance. They see whatever is convenient for the moment, but will change when it is in their best interest to present a different picture. They are chameleons, changing their words and actions to match their surroundings. We would call them hypocrites. They go with whatever way the wind is blowing They will do anything that makes them look good, but their hearts are not pure. Even their preacher spoke out of both sides of his mouth, trying to please his congregation. By-ends would do whatever was necessary at the moment to be accepted – to fit into the crowd.

Jesus pronounces had harsh words for these kind of people. He said they look good on the outside, but inside they are rotten. No matter how beautiful the headstones in a cemetery, it is still a place of dead people.

The church is filled with many good-looking people, dressed in their fine clothes on Sunday, and who talk a good talk when they are among other Christians. But Monday and the rest of the week tells the true story. May my life and my words be in sync and harmonize with each other.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- Pilgrim's Progress -- Life and Witness

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – LIFE AND WITNESS

"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which was against the soul, having your conduct honorable among he Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." (I Peter 3:11-12)

"Now I saw in my dream that Christian did not escape Vanity Fair by himself, for there was with him a man named Hopeful (a name he was given as he watched how Christian and Faithful in their words and in their deeds conducted themselves during all their sufferings at the fair). Hopeful had joined himself to Christian and entered into a brotherly covenant with him, promising him that he would be his companion for the rest of the journey."

,

Pilgrim and Faithful had conducted themselves honorably during their trial in Vanity Fair. They were witness to their faith in both their words and their conduct.

When Jesus was giving His last words to the Disciples before He returned to Heaven, He said, " 'You shall be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). Jesus did not say, "You shall do witnessing." He said, "You shall be witnesses." Be is a state of being very. It is what we are – not what we say. It is more than speaking; it is our very life that is a witness to the grace of the Gospel. Sometimes people cloud the Gospel message with their lives so much that people cannot hear what they say. Pilgrim and Faithful acted in such a way that the message of the Gospel rang loud and clear. That was what moved Hopeful to join Pilgrim on his journey.

May my life and the words of my mouth be a testimony to the grace of God in my life that would draw other people to Jesus. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- VANITY FAIR

ILGRIM'S PROGRESS – VANITY FAIR

" 'Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity' " (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

"Then I saw in my dream that when they had left the borders of the wilderness, they immediately saw a town before them. The name of that town is Vanity, and in the town there is a year-round market called Vanity Fair. It bears its name because the town that hosts the fair is only concerned with things that are unimportant and vain."

Christian and Faithful, on their way to the Celestial City, of necessity had to pass through the town called Vanity. The market in Vanity, called Vanity Fair, had many things for sale that would allure people, such as "houses, lands, trades, places, honors, positions, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, such as lewd entertainment, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones and whatnot." All of these wares could be obtained at a price. But Christian and Faithful would not be conned into buying into them. Not only were they not buying, but they stood out in the crowd because of their clothing, their speech, and the fact that they had no interest in the items being hawked. So they were beaten and abused, and finally brought to trial for inciting a riot. They were brought before the judge, Lord Hate-Good. Three witnesses were called by the prosecution, Envy, Superstition, and Flattery. Faithful was given opportunity to defend himself, but because of the bias of the judge and jury (Mr. Blind-man, Mr. No-Good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Hothead, Mr. High-mind, Mr Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable), he was condemned to death. Christian was sent back to the prison, from whence he escaped by the hand of "He who overrules all things."

We are strangers and pilgrims who seek a better city (Hebrews 11:13-16), but the temptation to get attached to the things of this vain world is ever present.  The offerings of this world are vanity because they are empty in light of eternity. We are different by our dress, our speech, and our affections for things that are higher, that are above this present world (Colossians 3:2). Jesus-lovers are an abomination to the world because they will not be "conformed to this world" (Romans 12:1). Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world...therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19-20). So we should not be surprised if the citizens of this world reject us and abuse us because we do not participate or buy into their vanity. We have something more valuable and more secure – a heavenly city.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- SHAME

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – SHAME

"But I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

" 'Did you meet anyone else in the valley [of Humiliation?' Christian inquired. Faithful answered, 'Yes, I met a man named Shame. However, of all the men that I met with in my pilgrimage, he, I think, bears the wrong name. The others would leave me after a little argumentation, but this bold-faced Shame would never have left me.' "

Christian and Faithful were comparing their experiences in the Valley of Humiliation. Faithful said that he met someone named Discontent, who told him that if he went into the Valley of Humiliation, that he would offend his old friends of Pride, Arrogance, Self-conceit, Worldly-Glory, and others he had known but who had rejected him, but he also had rejected them, so they had no claim on his life.

Still another personage he met in the Valley was Shame, who said there was no honor in walking God's way. He would be ridiculed because he was out of step with the times, and that most of the pilgrims were disreputable, powerless, and poor, and that not many mighty, rich, or wise walked this path; that his fellow pilgrims were ignorant and lacked understanding of natural science. In other words, being a Christian was beneath his dignity. Faithful's answer was that it was more important to be accepted in God's eyes than the world's eyes, and that he would stand before God in the day of judgment.

Satan would shame us into silence if we listened to him, saying that we are stupid to believe the Bible and that the Gospel is just a myth, and not reality. If we live to please others or our own pride and self-conceit, then we will be ineffective pilgrims. Shame will keep us from telling others the Gospel that has the power to set them free from sin. Even though I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, still sometimes Shame whispers in my ear, "What will other people think about you? They'll think you are an idiot." Well, so be it! I think I'll start a movement, "Idiots for Christ."

Love, Dad

 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- FAITHFUL FRIEND

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – FAITHFUL FRIEND

"A man who has fiends must himself be friendly, bu there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

"Now as Christian went on his way, he came to a little upward slope that had been put there for the purpose of helping pilgrims see what lay ahead of them. Christian ascended the slope, and looking from that height, he saw Faithful just ahead of him on his journey."

It seemed that Christian had walked a long way alone with no one to walk with him as a faithful friend. Then he spied a fellow-pilgrim ahead of him. In his haste, he ran to catch up. In fact, he passed Faithful but then he stumbled and fell to the ground so violently that he was not able to get up until Faithful came to him and helped him up. "Then I saw in my dream that they went on together with brotherly affection for each other and had many pleasant conversations about all the things that had happened to them on their pilgrimage."

It is indeed rare that two people can have that kind of relationship where they can talk about the things that really matter in their lives. We have many acquaintances, but true friends are few. Most of our relationships are superficial and so is our fellowship. But God does put people into our lives that we can share the most intimate of things and be vulnerable about our hopes, dreams, weaknesses, and failures. David and Jonathan in the Old Testament had that kind of bond. "The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul" (I Samuel 18:1). The word "knit" is a beautiful word picture of a relationship, where two threads are so intertwined that they cannot be separated.

If God has given that kind of intertwining, rejoice and be grateful for God's goodness. That kind of friendship is of great value and is to be treasured.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- ADAM THE FIRST

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – ADAM THE FIRST AND HIS DAUGHTERS

"For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (I Corinthians 15:22)

"Faithful recounted, 'When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I men a very old man who asked me my name and destination. I told him that I was a pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. Then the old man said to me, "You look like an honest fellow. Would you be willing to come ad live with and work for me for the wages that I would be willing to give you?" Then I asked him his name and where he lived. He said his name was Adam the First and that he lived in the town of Deceit.' "

The old man, "First Adam," is still alive. He offers many things to the weary Pilgrim, but they are hollow promises. Deceit is his habitat, and he has three daughter whom he offers in marriage to anyone who would follow him. Their names are Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the Eyes, and Pride of Life. The First Adam offers many wonderful things that appeal to the flesh, but they are all lies. The life that the First Adam and his daughters offers only ensnares a person in chains, because sin brings bondage.

The perceptive Christian recognizes the voice of the old man. As Faithful recalled his encounter with First Adam, "It came rushing into my mind that despite his flattering words, he would sell me as a slave when we got to his home," and he told him he would not come near the door to his house.

The best way to deal with the old man is to crucify him. "Therefore put to death our members which are on the earth….." (Colossians 3:5). "If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13). This is not a one-time fix because the First Adam keeps coming back to life. If I give the flesh any room, he will take over. So I must continually keep him under subjection. "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection" (I Corinthians 9:27). This is the key to victorious Christian living and freedom in Christ.

Love, Dad