Walking Past Roaring Lions
January was a blur for me. Was it for you? As a matter of fact, I’m using all of the discipline our Father has built into me to put this piece together. I’m looking to Him now to direct my thoughts and fingers.
The last few months have been especially trying. We’ve all had seasons such as this so I’ll trust you understand and avoid going into the details. Suffice it to say that God is making His presence known as surely as a candle seems to burn more brightly in the darkest of rooms. On Saturday He blessed me with His glorious truth in an intriguing way.
Curt and I travel north 2.5 hours once a month to encourage a group of brothers and sisters who are seeking the Lord to plant and develop a body of true worshippers. One of the ways we pass the long car ride is for me to read aloud to Curt. We are currently working our way through The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, a 1981 paperback version by Signet Classics, the Canadian publishing house of Penguin, Inc. The story is an allegory of our walk through justification and into the sanctification process. It’s quite insightful and includes numerous biblical references.
The passage I was reading this weekend takes place while “Christian” is making his way along the “narrow path.” Bunyan explains Christian’s visit to the cross; “his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre where it fell in and I saw it no more.” (p. 41) In other words, Christian came to faith in Jesus and was freed from his burden of sin. While this was a moving section, it was the closing paragraphs of the day’s reading that caused me to ponder.
Christian was making his way up a mountainous portion of the path when two other travelers came running down heading in the opposite direction. Their names were Timorous and Mistrust. Timorous explained that they too had been heading to the City of Zion, but that the further they went the more danger they met which finally caused them to turn back. Mistrust reported that the final barrier had been “a couple of lions in the way” which caused them to worry day and night about being ripped to shreds. They continued their retreat down the hill, but Christian pondered.
Christian understood that to go back home to the City of Destruction was to face certain death while to press on was to fear death all along the way with the safety of the Celestial City at its end. He decided to continue his journey and it wasn’t long before he was approaching a palace, a wonderful place for a much needed rest. However, Christian noticed there were two lions in the way. Though the lions were chained, Christian was unable to see their restraints and saw only death on the path ahead. He stopped in fear and began to think that he might do better following behind Timorous and Mistrust.
The Porter of the palace whose name was Watchful noticed Christian’s pause. He called out to him, “Is thy strength so small? Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none. Keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee.” (p. 48) Christian heeded the directions and proceeded in spite of his trembling fear. The lions did indeed roar, but they caused him no harm. His safe passage caused him to clap his hands as he arrived at the gate where he asked what the palace was and for permission to stay the night. Porter Watchful answered, “This house was built by the Lord of the hill, and he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims.” (p. 48,49)
The path laid out for the believer is narrow, arduous, and long. The dangers are real and frightening. Praise, glory, and honor be to God that our lot is secure. Genesis 3:15, 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 1:4, Philippians 1:6, Romans 8:31
Lord, thank you for this allegorical glimpse at the spiritual life in this world. Please empower me to put off the arguments of Timorous and Mistrust. Cause me, like Bunyan’s Pilgrim, to push on toward the Celestial City. May I be used as Bunyan’s Porter Watchful to encourage others in their journey on the narrow path that your Name would be glorified and our joy be made complete both now and forever. Amen
