Pick Up And Read

             It was at one time the most published book in the English language....and has never been out of print. References to John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress are everywhere from classic literature to twentieth century literature. They appear in film and even classical music....(Ralph Vaughn Williams).....to progressive rock....(Neal Morse.) Lady Thatcher specifically choose John Bunyan's hymn....(modified and updated over the many years)....He Who Would Valiant Be.....(also known as To Be A Pilgrim).....to be sung at her funeral.....and you can easily Google it.
             More importantly here....Charles Spurgeon....in my opinion....and that of many others.....was the greatest preacher since the Apostle Paul. I listen to three or four or five of his sermons each and every week....some sermons many times over....and the wisdom and knowledge that God gave this man is overwhelming to behold. Anyway.....he had written that he read Pilgrim's  Progress 100 times over his.....what was a relatively short 57 years. That means that he was reading Bunyan's book every year of his life and then some. He quoted it often in his sermons.....and I do not believe that he would have been the preacher that he was had not God given him this love of that book. Pastors....when was the last time you read Bunyan's book.....or Googled a Spurgeon sermon on YouTube?)
              I always try to make these posts short....with one message....and in this post the message is....that Pilgrim's Progress makes it clear....or should make it clear to us....that this life is short.....for we follow the main character Christian through his life....and later that of his wife Christiana....in an average length book. 
              We today....and in every age.....do not want to think of life as short....for we act as if....today....lasts forever.....or at least that it is the most important time in our life however long it may turn out to be. If we let it....Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress can give us the warnings that today's pulpits refuse to give us. It never permits the reader to sit in one place too long.....for one can see what that did to Bunyan's character. 'Press on' is the overarching theme.....keep going....pick yourself up if need be....stay vigilant....reach out for help.....give help....warn or comfort.....just keep the faith with your eyes on the Celestial City....and your mind on God's very Word to you....given for just that purpose of calling you and then guiding you on this your own pilgrimage....until we meet our Savior face to face....either upon our leaving this earth....or His return to it to gather us to Himself.

Note:I thought it interesting that the Charles Spurgeon sermon that I listened to this morning after publishing this post....used an example of a boat that is stuck in the mud.....and needed a rising tide to free it. I found it interesting because that very example has been in the news this past week as the giant container ship also needed a higher tide to free it. If you are interested in this sermon just Google....Charles Spurgeon sermon, The Indwelling And Outflowing Of The Holy Spirit.