Season 5 Podcast 46 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 11 Chapter 3 C, “The Lions.”

Season 5 Podcast 46 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 11 Chapter 3 C, “The Lions.” In last weeks episode, two persons who climbed over the wall rather than entering in at the Wicket Gate meet their end. Hypocrisy dies on the Road of Destruction and Presumption is lost in wild woods on the Road of Danger. Only Christian, who entered in at the proper gate, climbs the Hill of Difficulty. Christian is chastised for sleeping too long midway to the top of the hill at a wayside arbor. He quickly resumes his journey but meets Timorous and Mistrust who warn him of two lions sleeping in the way. Christian says to Timorous and Mistrust, who are fleeing back down the Hill of Difficulty, "You make me afraid; but whither shall I fly to be safe? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there; if I can get to the Celestial City, I am sure to be in safety there: I must venture. To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward."Perhaps the above is one of the strong examples of why Pilgrim’s Progress has been so successful among Christians of any denomination. He puts things in perspective. Certain death is far greater than the mere fear of death. He also emphasizes that nothing is worse  than eternal damnation and nothing is greater than life everlasting. He is abandoned by Mistrust and Timorous.“So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way.”Bunyan teaches another Christian Principle. Remember that the Shining ones gave him a Roll and commanded him to read it often. Rather than Formalist who became lost in the wild woods because he relied upon adherence to prescribed or external forms, Christian relied upon the Holy Bible. He sees the Bible as a means of interpreting every experience so that he might avoid the traps set by the Devil to ensnare him. However, to understand what happens next, we must again reflect upon Christian’s journey up to this point. Without understanding the necessity of the journey, what Christian does next would seem silly, what one might conclude ‘a tempest in a teapot.’ Remember that Christian has learned to be sober and vigilant for he sees the adversary the devil as a roaring lion who walketh about seeking whom he may devour.  Even now two lions are lying in the path ahead causing Timorous and Mistrust to abandon their journey though they had almost reached the top of the Hill Difficulty.Every lesson matters to Christian. Along the way Christian has met two very important characters, Evangelist and The Interpreter. They are really two sides of the same coin. Remember when Christian was led through many rooms and was required by The Interpreter to interpret each scene as a parable until he himself became like The Interpreter. That lesson comes in handy now, causing him excruciating repentance for merely sleeping too long in the Arbor. But, thinking again of what he heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, and found it not. Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted that which used to comfort him, and that which should have been his pass into the Celestial City. In his carelessness, he lost the Scroll. Bunyan teaches us one of the greatest principles of the gospel of Christ, daily repentance, even for what appears to be little things.Here, therefore, he began to be greatly troubled, and knew not what to do. At last he bethought himself that he had slept in the arbor that is on the side of the hill; and, falling down upon his knees, he asked God's forgiveness for that his foolish act, Next Bunyan teaches us that with repentance comes restitution.