I am not a big allegorical/ fictional reader, but this book has been referred to in so many other books - that I have read - that I had to give it a go. Thus far I have been pleasantly surprised even though I am only 80 pages into it.
I will share more lessons learned from it when I am done with it. But let me give you a brief synopsis and two extracts.
The story is about a guy called Christian who leaves his home in the City of Destruction and begins a long journey to the Celestial City. His adventure is full of encounters with interesting people such as Faithful, Hopeful, and Ignorance. Travelling through places like Vanity Fair and the Valley of Shadow of Death, he reaches his heavenly home but learns rich lessons during his journey.
Let me share to extracts or tasters…
1. Then the Interpreter led him toward the door of the palace. At the door stood a great crowd of people. All were anxious to go in, but no one dared to enter. By this Christian understood that a great many people who desire and intend to enter the kingdom of Heaven are kept back by fear.
The door of the palace was guarded by strong armed men. Between the crowd and the door sat a recorder at a table with book and pen, to write down the names of all who would enter.
Out of the crowd came one called Courage, and gave his name to the man at the table. Then he put a helmet on his head, drew out a sword, and rushed toward the door. He was seized by the armed guards, but they could not hold him. He cut and slashed them with such fierceness that they fell back and let him go in. From the inside, and from the top of the building, came the words: “Come in, come in; eternal glory you shall win”
2. Just then he saw two men come over the wall a little behind him. They walked fast and caught up with him. One was named Formality, the other Hypocrisy.
Christian: Gentlemen, where are you from and where are you going?
They said that they were from the town of Vainglory and were going to Mount Zion.
Christian: Why did you not come in at the gate at the beginning of the way? You know it is written in the book by the Builder of the road: “He that cometh not in by the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
They told him that to go to the gate from where they lived was considered too far by all and that the usual way was to take a shortcut and climb over the wall, as they had done.
Christian: But will it not be counted a trespass and a violation of instructions by the Lord of the City where you are going? They said he need not trouble his head about that, for they had a long-standing custom where they lived to guide them in their practice, and they could produce plenty of testimony of its practicality over a period of more than a thousand years.
Christian: But will it stand the final test?
They thought so. They said that a custom of such long standing most certainly had been accepted and, without doubt, would be admitted by the impartial Judge at the end of the way. “And,” they reasoned, “we are in the same way you are in. What does it matter how we got in? If we are in, we are in. In what way is your position better than ours?”
Christian: I walk by the rule of the Lord of the way; you follow your own fancy: the crude invention of uninspired men. You are called thieves already by the Lord of the way. Therefore I doubt that you will be found true men at the end. You came in by yourselves without His direction, and you shall go out by yourselves without His mercy.
At this they told Christian to mind his own business; they would take care of themselves. They said that they were quite sure of having kept the law and ordinances fully as well as he. “Therefore,” said Formality, “we see no difference between you and ourselves except the coat on your back, which, no doubt, some neighbour gave you to hide your nakedness.”
Christian: By laws and ordinances you cannot be saved. And as for this coat I am wearing, it was given to me by the Lord of the place where I am going. It was given, as you say, to cover my nakedness. And I wear it as a token of His kindness to me; for I had nothing but rags before. Now I feel sure that when I come to the gate of the Celestial City, the Lord will know me by this coat He gave me, by this mark in my forehead – which perhaps you had not noticed – placed there by one of His faithful servants, and by this book which I hold in my hand. All of these I doubt you have, because you did not come in through the gate.
They gave him no answer, but looked at each other and laughed. Then Christian walked on a little before them, often reading from his book, to refresh his spirit and overcome the disappointments of the day.’
You can buy this for R80 through Loot. It is absolutely worth it.
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