“Our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21
The Pilgrim’s Progress is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan, an English writer and Puritan preacher from the 1600’s. Bunyan spent 12 years in prison for his faith and it was there he began to write this timeless classic. The story takes the reader on an allegorical journey with a man named Christian Pilgrim who left his home in the City of Destruction which symbolizes the sinful world to find a place called the Celestial City which represents Heaven. On his travels he met up with people that taught him life altering lessons about his character and faith, some were sent by wicked foes and others by angelic friends. If there was ever a time for this story to be relevant to the reader it is now!
The Bible is very clear about what the world is going to look like before the Tribulation Period begins. The events we are seeing happening today certainly fall in line with the warnings we are given. The most important thing a person can do right now is to ready themselves and others to meet Jesus. Read Matthew 24 and 2 Timothy 3. The Bible is also very clear about how we are to live and teaches us how to stay on the path of righteousness. It truly is our guide and map for this journey we are all on to our Heavenly City. Read Proverbs 4, Jude, and Romans.
“The Book doesn’t promise an easy journey, but it does promise a wonderful destination.” The Pilgrim’s Progress
We start off with Christian finding a book that directs him to the Celestial City and with a heavy load growing from his back representing the worries of the world, he embarked on his journey to find this perfect place of peace. Along the way he met Evangelist who showed him a safe passage by following in the direction of the light, but he ended up being detoured by devious characters and bizarre places such as Worldly Wiseman who led him off the right path into the Swamp of Despondency which represents doubt, guilt and sin. All these allegorical elements are so well placed and named that you cannot help but pause to reflect on your own life choices and character. Christian encountered temptations and trials the entire way but was always sent a way of escape. He met up with many other characters such as Interpreter, Great-Heart, Faithful, Hopeful, and Mercy who helped him flee from the clutches of Apollyon, Giant Despair, and other wicked evildoers.
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
I highly recommend you watch the movie version for a time such as this with your family, friends, and church. Take time to talk about each character and the decisions that got Christian into trouble and how he escaped. Below is the best adaptation I have seen and is kid friendly as it is animated with a great introduction explaining the Christian symbols and relevance to the world we are in today.
Are you ready to meet Jesus?
Revelation 3:10
“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the Earth. ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Join me on the journey💝
The Pilgrim’s Progress by Revelation Media. Free viewing.
https://www.revelationmedia.com/watchpilgrims/RM11445/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
ABOUT MARIE SCINTO
“You are God’s girl and He loves you! You sprinkle His seeds of love wherever you go!” Those words were spoken to me by my husband Joe many years ago. They came at a time when I was questioning my self-worth in God’s Kingdom, purposes, and plans. The Father made sure that in my darkest spiritual hour, I heard His Truth about my identity and self-worth. It has been my passion ever since to deliver that same message to any who may need to hear it. It is not about who we are, but Whose we are, and I am God’s girl!
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