WEEK 2 – THURSDAY
Read and pray: “Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” (Ephesians 5:14)
The other travelers also arrived at the beginning of the hill, but when they saw the cliffs and crags, and noticed that there were two other paths, much easier, which likely ended in the same place as the one Christian was on, they each decided to take their own way.
So, one went down the path called Danger and became lost in a dark forest; the other took the path of Eternal Death, which led to a vast field full of black mountains, where he stumbled and fell, never to rise again.
I turned my eyes to Christian to behold his dangerous ascent.
What toil! What weariness! He could not run, and at times even walking was difficult, having to use his hands to help himself climb. Fortunately, halfway up, there was a resting place, prepared by the Lord of the way for the comfort and refreshment of weary travelers. Upon arriving, Christian sat down to rest.
He took from his pocket his certificate, to rejoice and comfort himself with its reading, and to examine the robe that had been given him at the foot of the cross. But while he was resting, sleep overtook him, and during that sleep, the certificate fell from his hands. He only woke near nightfall. Still asleep, someone approached and said: “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” (Proverbs 6:6). At this rebuke, he woke up and immediately rose, continuing his journey more swiftly until he reached the top of the hill.
As he approached, two men named Faintheart¹ and Distrust came running toward him in retreat. “Why are you turning back?” Christian asked them.
Faintheart – We were on our way to the city of Zion and had already overcome the difficulties of this pass; but as we went on, the obstacles grew worse, and we thought it wiser to turn back and abandon the journey.
Distrust – That’s exactly right. A short distance from here we saw two lions on the road; whether they were sleeping or awake we didn’t know, but we feared to get closer, for they might tear us to pieces.
Christian – Your words frighten me; but where could I flee and be safe? If I return to my country, my destruction is certain, for that land is condemned to fire and brimstone. But if I can reach the Celestial City, I will be safe forever. Onward, then! Let us trust! To turn back is to face sure death; to go forward is only to fear death, with eternal life in view. Onward, then!
And he continued on his way, while Faintheart and Distrust were already going back down the hill.
But the words of those two troubled him, and to encourage and comfort himself, he searched his chest for the certificate — but it was gone! Great was his anguish and distress to be missing that certificate, which had brought him so much comfort and was his pass into the Celestial City.
He remembered that he had slept on the way, and falling to his knees, begged the Lord for forgiveness, then turned back to search for the document he had lost. Poor Christian! Who could express the bitterness of his soul? He sighed, wept abundantly, and reproached himself for the foolishness of having allowed sleep to overtake him in a place meant only for momentary rest and refreshment.
He looked carefully to each side of the path, searching for his certificate, and thus arrived at the place where he had slept. There, his sorrow deepened, and his heartache grew worse as he beheld the place that reminded him of such a painful failure (Revelation 2:4–5; 1 Thessalonians 5:6).
He cried out in lament: Wretched and miserable man that I am! To fall asleep in the daytime! To sleep in the midst of so many dangers! To indulge the flesh and give it rest in a place meant only for brief refreshment! This is what happened to the Israelites who, because of their sins, had to return to the Red Sea!
Woe is me! I now have to retrace my steps with sorrow, which would never have happened if I had not given in to that sinful sleep. How much farther would I be along the way by now! To be forced to travel three times the distance I should have walked only once; and worse yet, to likely be overtaken by nightfall, for the day is nearly gone! Oh, how much better it would have been to resist the weight of sleep!
Absorbed in these thoughts, he reached the rest stop again. He sat down for a moment to give freer vent to his tears, until finally, Providence allowed that, as he glanced around the bench where he sat, he spotted the certificate; he snatched it up eagerly and returned it to his chest.
It would be impossible to describe the joy that flooded this man when he saw himself again in possession of that precious document — his guarantee of life and his pass to the desired haven. He held it close to his heart, gave thanks to God for allowing him to find it, and, weeping with joy, resumed his journey, now cheerful and light, though not so fast that he avoided being caught by sunset before reaching the top of the hill.
O fatal sleep! —Christian said amid his sorrow— you are the cause why I must now travel by night. The sun no longer shines on me. My feet will not know where to step, and my ears will hear only the howls of the night beasts. Alas! It is at night that the lions, which Faintheart and Distrust saw on the way, come in search of their prey. If I meet them in the darkness, who shall deliver me from their claws? (Revelation 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:7–8).
Such were Christian’s thoughts. But lifting his eyes, he beheld a magnificent palace, standing right along the road, and its name was Beautiful Palace.
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¹ One who fears; one afraid of making mistakes; timid, hesitant, bashful.
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