Progess! We all desire and seek it from an early age. Nobody wants to be stagnate, static, or stuck in a rut! We all want to feel like we’re progressing year to year, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We also want to feel like we’re advancing and progressing in our careers! An architect, electrician, plumber and writer - all want to see improvement in their job prowess.
As Christians, most of us want to feel we’re making progress in becoming more like Christ, since the word ‘Christian’ means one who is following in Christ’s footsteps.
Back in 1681, an English preacher named John Bunyan, wrote a ‘best selling’ book entitled ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ - an allegory about Christian progress. In fact the protagonist in his story is named ‘Christian,’ a man who lived in the ‘City of Destruction,’ symbolic of living in this world. Christian becomes overwhelmed with his sinfulness, wanting to erase it and overcome it. As he ponders his state, in an outdoor setting, a man named ‘Evangelist’ shows up and tells him about the ‘Wicket Gate,’ that leads to deliverance from sin, and into the ‘Celestial city.’ Not able to convince his wife and kids to follow him as pilgrims on a spiritual journey, ‘Christian’ sets out alone. But the ‘City of Destruction’ leaders send out two men, ‘Obstinate’ & ‘Pliable,’ to try to bring him back. When they find Christian and are unable to convince him to return, ‘Obstinate’ returns alone - but ‘Pliable’ becomes convinced that Christian’s journey is one he should follow. But as the two find that they have strayed into the ‘Slough of Despondence,’ symbolic of sin and corruption, ‘Pliable’ abandons ‘Christian’ and finds a way out, returning home alone. Christian cries out for help, and an angel named ‘Help’ appears, and guides him out of the ‘Slough of Despondence.’ Back on the road, ‘Christian’ meets Mr. Worldly Wiseman and Mr. Legality, who try to convince him that he must ‘earn’ his salvation. But ‘Evangelist’ runs into him, and exposes these 2 for the frauds they are. When Christian finally sees the ‘Wicket Gate’ a far off, he suddenly finds himself dodging arrows from Beelzebub’s archers. But a man named ‘Goodwill,’ symbolic of Christ, shows up and rescues ‘Christian,’ leading him through the ‘Wicket Gate’ into the ‘Celestia City.’
According to your Bible, all who seek God are pilgrims - people on a sacred journey - culminating in the entrance into the New Jerusalem (REVELATION 22:14)
King David wrote: “For we are aliens & pilgrims before YOU, as were all our fathers.” (I CHRONICLES 29:15) We read in the book of Psalms: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in YOU, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” (PSALM 84:5) These texts are not talking about a physical pilgrimage, like the one people make to Vatican City or Mecca, but rather a spiritual journey towards mimicking God and His nature of love, truth, and holiness.
The apostle Paul was inspired to write: “These (O.T. Saints) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city (New Jerusalem) for them.” (HEBREWS 11:13-16)
This is the place Jesus was talking about when He said to His disciples: “In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also.” (JOHN 14:2,3 CJB)
So how do we make progress as Christian Pilgrims? Peter tells us: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (I PETER 2:11,12)
Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (MATTHEW 18:3-5) Jesus also gave us this parable, illustrating God’s desire for us to progress as Christian pilgrims: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.” (MATTHEW 25:14-19) Jesus goes on to show that those who progress with the talents God has given them will be rewarded, but those who don’t will have even what’s been given to them taken away.
Ironically, there is one text in Scripture which tells us to progress backwards: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (JUDE 1:3) By the time Jude wrote his epistle, some 30 years after Christ’s death, some Christians were already departing from ‘the Faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.’ The challenge to all Christians since has been to progress in returning to ‘Original Christianity’ - the Faith which Christ Himself had taught the apostles and original Christians - before it was corrupted by men.
King David wrote: “Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God.” (PSALM 55:19) Too many Christians fail to grow and change! They don’t progress spiritually because they lack fear of, and reverence for God; the cares of this world choke the word of God they hear or read; persecution from non-Christians inhibit their growth; or Satan lures them away from God with various enticements.
The apostle Paul compared a pilgrim’s progress to the work of a builder: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. (I CORINTHIANS 3:9-14) Are you building your life with wood, hay & straw, which can be easily consumed by fire? Or are you building your life with gold, silver & precious stones, symbolic of materials that last?
In his letter to the Colossians Paul talks about the kinds of things we can build our spiritual lives with - that last: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” (COLOSSIANS 1:9,10)
The apostle Peter says something similar: But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (II PETER 1:5-9)
God is only giving His Holy Spirit to a few at this time (COLOSSIANS 1:26-29) - and “to whom much is given, much is required” (LUKE 12:48). That’s why Paul warned Timothy: “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (I TIMOTHY 4:13-16)
So make your progress known to all!