In the frontpiece of many of the editions of John Bunyan's great book, The Pilgrim's Progress, the words of Hosea 12: 10 are quoted: - "I have used similitudes". The Pilgrim's Progress is the story of a man's pilgrimage "from this world to that which is to come"; his journey from "the City of Destruction to the Celestial City". And in the course of this journey this man, this "Christian", as Bunyan calls him, meets with many situations which set - in similitude - the situations which every believing child of God meets as he follows in the footsteps of those who have gone before.
Over the next six issues we are going to look at some of these "Pictures from Pilgrim's Progress", and trust that they may help to show us that, indeed, not only is "there no temptation taken you but such as is common to all", but no joy, no perplexity, no situation either but that some of the Lord's people have met before you. The pictures may come at random from edition to edition, but in this first article of this series let us begin with the very first two characters that the book confronts us with, i.e. Pilgrim and Evangelist.
"As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and laid me down in that place to sleep; and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold I saw a man clothed in rags standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; and, as he read, he wept and trembled; and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying 'What shall I do?'"
This is the man that the book is all about. This is the Pilgrim. Let's just look at him for a moment, and see how Bunyan draws his picture for us. He was "clothed with rags", we are told; i.e. the rags of his own self-righteousness. He had come to that point in his life, no doubt, where he had done many things in an effort to make himself appear righteous before God and so obligate God to grant him heaven and rest for his soul at last. All those works and efforts had now appeared in their true light before him, and now he stands "clothed in rags".
He had "his face from his own house". What had our Lord said about loving loved ones more than Him and not being worthy to be called His disciple? Pilgrim was now ready to give up all for peace with God. He had "a book in his hand". No other book but the Word of God. And "a great burden upon his back". This burden he had through reading that book, for what he had read had told him that he was under the Divine wrath of God. "Flee from the wrath to come" this book told him, and this only added to his burden - the burden of his own sinfulness before God and fear of hell that possessed him - and made him cry out all the more as he read and re-read this book's words. "Not being able to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying 'What shall I do?'" He knew that he must flee, and what he must flee from, but where to flee to he had not yet discovered from his book.
Enter Evangelist! "Wherefore dost thou cry?" These are Evangelist's first words to the burdened sinner, and these words speak volumes regarding the nature of this one who has been sent to direct the feet of the wandering Pilgrim. Later on in this book we are given a picture of the Evangelist. "The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand … And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth writ on his lips, it is to show thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men". The Evangelists eyes are "lifted up to heaven"; i.e. he is much in prayer for the souls of men: he too has "the best of books in his hand," - the Bible, and "the law of truth is writ on his lips". And because he knows the needs of sinners, so he "stands as if he pleaded with men".
And with our Pilgrim he pleads: "Wherefore dost thou cry?" And to this man Pilgrim unburdens his heart: "Whither must I fly?" he asks him, for that's the question uppermost in his mind, remember. Listen to Evangelist's answer: – "Do you see yonder Wicket Gate?" There is a place where poor, burdened Pilgrim can find relief from his burden of sin; it's through "yonder Wicket Gate", for that's where the Cross of Christ stands, where burdens are taken away. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate", said our Lord; "Knock and it shall be opened unto you".
"Do you see yonder shining light?" Evangelist asks again. Not only is Christ "the door", through which we must enter to know the joys of sins forgiven, but He is also "the light" to guide us to himself. Good, faithful Evangelist who points the burdened sinner to Christ and Christ alone.
And so, Pilgrim runs to "yonder Wicket Gate". "Life! Life! Eternal life!" he cries. And Eternal life he finds through Christ our Lord.
This Page Title – Pictures from Pilgrim's Progress - Christian meets EvangelistThe Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 51 – placed on line November 2004 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |