On Monday mornings this year at Apostolic Christian School I’ve taught through John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Bunyan’s allegory for the Christian life has served as a guide for many generations. I highly recommend everyone to read Bunyan’s most popular book. I thought it appropriate to use his allegory as a lesson for young people, especially young Christians.
Christian: A Man with a Burden and a Book
Mr. Bunyan begins his story by introducing the main character, a man named Christian. Christian is described as being clothed with rags, a burden on his back, and a book in his hand.
The story starts with Christian opening the book and reading. He wept and cried as he read from the book. Not able to contain himself, he broke out with a lamentable cry saying, “What shall I do?!” Christian goes home, and there we are introduced to Christian’s wife and children.
Christian tells his wife, “By reason of a burden that lies upon me, I am certain that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven, we must escape and be delivered.” Unfortunately, Christian’s family did not believe him. They were concerned about his well-being, but not for his soul, or for their own souls. His wife and children urged him to lay down and get some rest. When their advice didn’t seem to cure what ailed Christian, they attempted to mock and deride him for his fear of divine punishment. Despite his family’s interventions, Christian continued to be troubled by the burden, and the city’s impending doom.
A Burden
Christian was weighted down with a great burden upon his back. Like Christian, all humanity is under the weight of sin (Rom. 3:23). Read what David said concerning the weight of sin:
“Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins. My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear” (Psalm 38:3–4 NLT).
Sin is a heavy burden to bear. Christian is so over burdened with sin that he buckles under the heavy weight. Christian longs to be relieved from his burden. His family’s attempts of helping were insufficient. Sin cannot be admonished, or counseled. Christian wasn’t going to be able to sleep away his sin. Christian needed divine relief.
The awareness of our sin is the first step towards repentance. David says elsewhere, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3). Christian had been awakened to the fact that he had been carrying a weight that he cannot rid himself of.
Young person, you have begun to feel the burden of life upon your shoulders, back, and mind. Particular worries and fears, that you have evaded for 17-18 years, have suddenly been lowered upon your shoulders. Your family has until this point carried these burdens for you. Now, however, you begin to feel them. You’ve always wanted to be an adult and now its here. But for the rest of your life you will desire to go back to being a child or teenager. By reason of life’s burdens you will want to be free, just as you have been these past years.
Life’s burdens pale in comparison to the burden of sin. Perhaps you’ve been taught through various Bible classes, and church services that sin is very real. The sense of sin will never escape you. The greatest way to lighten the load of life’s burden is to be sure to be free from the burden of sin.
A Book
Christian is described as having a burden on his back, but he also has a book in his hand. This book is none other than the Bible. Christian feels the weight of his sin, but is also moved by what is revealed in the Book.
Young person, your days have been filled with books for the past twelve years. Science; Math; English; Shakespeare; Geography; Playbooks; Health; Government; Econ and much more. The greatest book, however, is the Bible. No education is complete unless it has the Bible at the forefront. You may reference other books, but only one Book should be your guide, and that is the Bible.
Do not neglect your Bible. Turn to it time and time again. There is no greater Book than the Bible.
Evangelist and Mr. Worldly Wiseman
Christian was in a certain field reading his Book, and as he read he felt distressed and cried out, “What shall I do to be saved?” Christian felt like running, but he couldn’t decide which way to run. It was at this moment that a man named Evangelist walked towards him, asked, “Wherefore dost thou cry?”
Evangelist handed Christian a parchment roll, and there was written within it, “Fly from the wrath to come.” Christian didn’t know where to fly off to. Then Evangelist pointed his finger over a wide field and said, “Do you see yonder Wicket-Gate?” Christian couldn’t see the gate. So Evangelist told Christian to focus his sight on the Light, and the Light would lead to the Wicket-Gate. Once Christian arrived at the Wicket-Gate he was to knock on the door, and it would be told him what he was to do (Matt. 7:7-8).
Evangelist represents the preacher. Christian was in need of a guide, someone who could point him in the right direction. This is the duty of every minister. Preachers are to be able to point people towards the relief they desperately need. Evangelist didn’t point Christian towards himself, rather he pointed him towards the Light and Wicket-Gate. Evangelist wasn’t the answer, but he had the answer.
Young person, you have been blessed with many great teachers and preachers. All of your spiritual leaders have tried their best to point you to the light. They’ve equipped you and given you the tools to get you where you need to go. Evangelist helped Christian later on after he listened to some terrible advice from Mr. Worldly Wise-Man.
Mr. Worldly Wiseman pointed Christian in the wrong direction after Christian’s Slough of Despond encounter. Mr. Worldly Wiseman told him the exact opposite of what Evangelist told him to do. Christian ended up behind a mountain and far away from his intended place of Wicket-Gate. Evangelist found Christian and set him on the right path again.
Evangelist revealed the errors in Mr. Worldly Wiseman’s advice:
- He loves the world’s doctrine.
- His religion is morality.
- His morality keeps him from the Cross.
- He wants to turn people from the Way.
- He believes the Cross is repulsive.
- He presents his own way as the easier way.
As you journey through life you are going to meet many people who want to give you advice and counsel. You will hear the diatribes of secular professors who will point you away from Jesus. You will have friends who will attempt to guide you away from Truth. There will be others who will say it’s impossible for one to know truth. Others will make you believe that sin and salvation are nothing more than a state of mind. However, any advice that attempts to remove the Cross, or to minimize salvation by grace should be avoided. Counsel that tries to get you to leave the narrow path for the broad path should be evaded.
I encourage you to keep that Book in your hands, and keep true spiritual leaders in close proximity. Take heed how you hear, but also take heed to who you listen to.
Unbelieving Family, Mocking Neighbors, and Unreliable Acquaintances
Once Christian left his hometown and journeyed towards the Wicket-Gate, his neighbors and family began to mock him. His wife believed him to be a fool who had lost his mind. His neighbors believed he was on a wild goose chase. Christian put his fingers into his ears and ran towards Wicket-Gate. Like David, you may have to encourage yourself in the Lord. While others mock, you’ll have to put your fingers into your ears and follow the leading of God’s Spirit towards relief.
Two men that came alongside Christian were Obstinate and Pliable.
Obstinate became convinced that Christian was out of his mind. Obstinate didn’t want to hear such foolishness from Christian’s Book. The thought of believing in Christian’s pursuit was absurd to Obstinate. From that moment Obstinate decided to go back to the City of Destruction and continue living as he had always done. Christian wasn’t going to be able to change Obstinate’s mind.
First, you are going to meet many obstinate people on your Christian pilgrimage. You will have family members calling for you to return to the old life. There will be friends and neighbors who will call you foolish or brainwashed. The Bible refers to such people as “stubborn” (Deut. 10:16; Ps. 81:12; Acts 19:9); “hard-hearted” (Pro. 28:14); and “stiff-necked” (Ex. 32:9; Acts 7:51). People who are unyielding to God’s Word and Spirit are obstinate, and you will never change their minds with mere arguments (Col. 2:4). It will have to be the work of the Holy Spirit to change their hearts and minds (Ezk. 36:26).
Second, do not be like Obstinate. Now, this is a paradox. If we are to be steadfast in what we believe (Acts 2:42), and defend what we believe (1 Pt. 3:15-16), how are we any different than Obstinate? Here is the difference: Obstinate was stubbornly adhering to his opinions and preferences. On the other hand Christian was unyielding in his belief in God’s Word. It’s one thing to be obstinate about preferences, it’s another thing to be committed to the One who doesn’t change (Mal. 3:6)! Preferences and opinions can change, but the Word of God is forever settled in heaven (Ps. 119:89)!
While Obstinate turned around and went home, Pliable was very interested in the things to be received in this eternal kingdom. He kept asking, and Christian kept answering. The thought of these blessings excited Pliable so much that he wanted to pick up the pace of their traversing.
Unfortunately, Christian and Pliable came upon a swampy area called the Slough of Despond. Both men fell into the swamp-like substance and began to sink. Pliable was able to get himself out of the slough. Christian, on the other hand, was bogged down with the weight of the burden on his back, and unable to help himself get out.
Once Pliable was out of the mud he became very angry with Christian. He didn’t attempt to help Christian, but instead chastised him for not warning him of this type of danger.
Chances are great that you will come to your own Slough of Despond. Problems, issues, grief, loss, and failure are part of every journey. Pliable wasn’t willing to endure, so he went back home too.
The word “pliable” is defined as “flexible,” “easily bent,” “easily influenced,” and “adaptable.” This accurately describes Pliable in Mr. Bunyan’s allegory. You shouldn’t be Obstinate, but you shouldn’t be like Pliable either. Pliable was willing to be conformed to the world around him. Christians are to be transformed by God. Beloved, we must be pliable so we can be transformed into the image of God. We mustn’t be like Mr. Pliable that we are conformed to the fashions of this world.
The Cross
When Christian finally arrives to the Cross, his burden slips from off his back, and rolls into an empty tomb. Christian stands and begins to rejoice that his burden had been removed.
In like manner, our burden of sin is removed by the Cross of Jesus Christ. At Calvary we take all of our burdens to have them removed. The Cross isn’t a pit-stop on life’s journey. The Cross is the center of our life. Because it’s easy to pick up other burdens after we have encountered Calvary.
The interesting part of Christian’s journey, is that Wicket-Gate and the Cross weren’t final destinations. Christian’s final destination was the Celestial City. But Christian doesn’t arrive at the Cross to be transported to the Celestial City. No, the journey continues. Christian now lives, and behaves in light of the Cross.
After Christian’s encounter at the Cross, he travels to Difficulty Hill, Palace Beautiful, the Valley of Humiliation, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Vanity Fair, Doubting Castle, Delectable Mountains, and Dark River.
Christian would have never survived had it not been for his experience at the Cross.
Have you had your Cross encounter yet? Have you met the One who can relieve you of your burden? Because you too will face difficulties; monsters at the Valley of Humiliation; shadows of darkness, despair in the castle of doubt; deep waters of trouble; and persecution in a secularized culture.
Progress On
Like Christian you will meet people like Obstinate; Pliable; Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Formalist and Hypocrisy; Apollyon; Mr. Talkative; Giant Despair; Ignorance; Flatterer; and Atheist. They will only seek to hold you back, and drag you down.
You’ll need friends like Evangelist; Good-Will; Interpreter; Faithful; Hopeful; Discretion; Prudence; Piety; Charity; Knowledge; Experience; Watchful; and Sincere. All of these friends will encourage you to get where you are going!
Life is a journey made up of progressions. Scripture employs many metaphors for progressing in the Christian life: walking (2 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 5:16); running (1 Cor. 9:24-26); growing (Eph. 4:15); maturing (Col. 1:28). Don’t put roots down with anyone or with anything that keeps you from progressing in life.
The Puritans, like John Bunyan, taught that Christians were to live with their bags packed and ready to go. We aren’t to pursue what this world has to offer. We shouldn’t put our roots down in this place, but instead live as to pursue our Celestial City of Heaven. If you will keep your eyes towards heaven, then it will be heaven that you attain. But such a pursuit isn’t without its difficulties. But you must endure and you must continue to progress. You must carry on. You must continue on the young person’s progress to adulthood, and the Pilgrim’s progress to the Celestial City.
*This sermon was preached and dedicated to the ACS Senior Class of 2020.