I recently finished reading Pilgrim’s Progress, a birthday gift from my wife (the lovely and talented Dame Donna). I’m a bit ashamed that it’s taken me this long to get to it, but there you go.
What I didn’t realize was that John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress in two parts. Part I — which I was familiar with — relates the account of the pilgrim Christian’s journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. Part II — which I was unfamiliar with — follows Christian’s wife (Christiana), children, and an unrelated woman’s similar journey.
The following passage stuck out to me from Part II, the Seventh Stage:
Then they had them to another place, called Mount Innocent; and there they saw a man clothed all in white, and two men, Prejudice and Ill-will, continually casting dirt upon him. Now, behold, the dirt, whatsoever they cast at him, would in a little time fall off again, and his garment would look as clear as if no dirt had been cast thereat. Then said the pilgrims, “What means this?”
The shepherds answered, “This man is named Godly-man, and this garment is to show the innocency of his life. Now, those that throw dirt at him are such as hate his well-doing; but, as you see, the dirt will not stick upon his clothes: so it shall be with him that liveth truly innocently in the world. Whoever they be that would make such men dirty, they labor all in vain; for God, by that a little time is spent, will cause that their innocence shall break forth as the light, and their righteousness as the noon-day.”
The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to That Which Is to Come
John Bunyan
With as much dirt-throwing, prejudice and ill-will we see in the news, on social media, and in society in general these days, this came as a real encouragement to me. Particularly as the church takes a stand on issues which are unpopular with the culture, it comforts me to know that God will be our justifier and our vindicator.
I am also humbled, though, to remember and consider that I am never “living truly innocently.” Surely on some occasions I’m the one who will be judged for my own words, actions and attitudes. Only Jesus, by His blood, can make me truly innocent and righteous.
Help me, Holy Spirit, to speak only truth, and that only in love. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace and mercy when I fail to do just that.