DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- OBSTINATE AND PLIABLE

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – OBSTINATE AND PLIABLE

"The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in heir hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble" (Luke 4:14-18; See also Matthew 13:18-21).

"So I saw in my dream that the man (Christian) began to run. He had not run very far from his home when his wife and children, realizing what was happening, cried after him to return. But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on crying, 'Life! Life! Eternal life.' So without looking back, he fled toward the middle of the valley …. Among those were two who decided to bring him back by force. The name of the one was Obstinate, and the name of the other was Pliable.""

Upon hearing the words and directions from Evangelist, Pilgrim started running toward the light. His family tried to stop him, and his friends and neighbors mocked him and tried to get him to return. But he kept on running toward the light. There were two of these "friends" who were determined to bring him back by force. One was named "Obstinate" and the other was named "Pliable." They ran after him to persuade him to return. But he answered, "That is not possible. You live in the City of Destruction, the place where I was born; and I believe that if you stay in that city, you will die sooner or later. Please consider, good neighbors, and come along with me." "What!" said Obstinate, "and leave our friends and comforts behind us? Will you come back with us or not?" "No," replied Christian. "I have started this journey, and I must finish it."

There are people we meet who are obstinate in their rejection of the Gospel. They like the way they are living and do not want to change. They stubbornly refuse to hear the message of salvation because they do not think they need a Savior. They have no inclination to hear about God or His Word. They reject the message of eternal life, and they will not keep company with Christian very long.

There are other people who are more willing to hear the Good News but they are wishy-washy – pliable to follow whatever sounds good to them. They receive the Gospel with joy and enthusiasm and follow for awhile. But when troubles come, they turn back. Both Christian and Pliable fell into the Sough of Despond. It seemed that both of them were going to be pulled under. Pliable says, "Is this the happiness you have been telling me about all the time we have been together?" With some struggle, Pliable got out of the Swamp on the side of the City of Destruction, and he returned home, leaving Christian to fend for himself.

There are those who would deter us from finishing our journey. But if our destination is the Celestial City, nothing in this world is worth going back to. "I have started this journey, and I must finish it." "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).

Love, Dad