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