Reminiscing Life's Journey
They say "life is a journey"
Thinking about this today, I recalled an essay I wrote, nearly five years ago (age 13), a book report on Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. I've decided to share it with you here. If you've read this book and want to share what you gleaned from it, please comment down below.
Pilgrim's Progress
Pilgrim’s
Progress by John Bunyan is a superb fiction addition to Christian
literature. “In the similitude of a dream,” it begins with Christian in deep,
soul-wrenching despair over the eternal future of his soul. After much struggle
and ridicule, he sets off on his pilgrimage to the Celestial City – to his
Heavenly Father. On his journey, he meets with hardships and trials – including
influences that lead him astray. Yet, he is encouraged by God’s help and
provision, and the hope of the Celestial City.
At first, Christian’s family refuses
to come with him, but in the second part of the book, they also enter into their
own pilgrimage. They face many troubles, including several of the same ones
Christian did; however, with the help of their guide, Great-heart, they came to
the land of Beulah where they stayed until their Master called them home to
Him.
One of the first challenges
Christian meets is the Slough of Dispond, right before the wicket-gate, which
is Christ. Christian meets it with Pliable, a man with an easily persuaded
heart. At first glance, the Slough of Dispond looked like the plain around
them, and they fell into its muddy mire unsuspectingly. They had no way of
telling it apart, for they traveled heedlessly. The weight of the burden upon
their backs hung on them, and pulled them deeper and deeper. Pliable became
appalled with the difficulty he was facing, and after a discourse with
Christian, he painfully heaved out of the Slough and deserted Christian. As for
Christian, Help arrived, pulled him out, and bid him on his way.
Christian eventually came upon the
Valley of the Shadow of Death. He had to endure it and go through it, for the
path leading to the Celestial City lay past it. “The Prophet Jeremiah thus
describes it: A wilderness, a land of deserts and of pits, a land of drought,
and of the shadow of death, a land where no man (but a Christian) passeth
through, and where no man dwelt” (page 65). As Christian passed through it, it
was completely dark; the path was narrow, and a deep ditch lay on either side of
the path. Christian encountered the mouth of hell, eerie voices, rushes, and
many other frightening things just a short distance from himself. However, he
kept his sight on his Father’s throne. At daylight, he came out of the Valley,
but he never forgot his experience in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Another time, Christian and his
temporary companion Faithful came upon Vanity, a town where a fair is kept
year-round, called Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair is a fair full of paganism,
idolatry, and evil lurking everywhere. A place where everything - evil and not
- is sold. Faithful and Christian themselves stuck out because of their
apparel, speech, and godly attitude that did not amuse the merchants. As they
were walking through the fair, they were mocked, seized, and turned in for
examination. They told who they were, where they had come from, and where they
were going. They professed Christ boldly, and as a result, they were locked in
a cage. They were placed in chains and shown off for all to see – persecuted
and brought to trial. Faithful died a horrible martyr’s death, but he remained
true to Jesus to the end of his life, and was taken to heaven in a chariot with
horses. Christian himself escaped with the passage of time, and continued on
his journey.
Christiana, Christian’s wife, after
many trials, arrived in Beulah - the place of rest before entering the
Celestial City. One day, she received a letter from the Master requesting her.
It said He wanted her to cross the river – one of the final tests of faith
before entering the Golden Gates of the Celestial City. So, Christiana bid her
family, her friends, and her guide, Great-heart adieu, and crossed the river
into eternal life.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan not
only as a leisure book, but also as a book for study. I delved into, and took
immense delight in the vivid descriptions Bunyan gives, and I whole heartedly
agree on the fundamental purpose and teachings of this book. The possible
applications to anyone’s everyday life stick out, and grasp your heart strings.
This incredible book inspires me to
go on my own pilgrimage, to put my faith in God’s hands, to take hope in
Christ, and to fully look forward to the Celestial City – heaven. I would
highly recommend this book to Christian families, and individual Christians
around the world. To those who seek to know more deeply about the Christian
life, and who wish to gain hope from God’s promises.
Bibliography
Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim's Progress. New York: Dover Thrift, 2003. Print.
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Praying this year's journey is one of growth and delight,
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