Pilgrims make progress
Dear Pilgrim, How is the journey so far? Are you making progress? Hope you understand that this journey is a pilgrimage, not just an ordinary trip or an excursion.
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We are all travelling, but while many are simply on an aimless expedition like lost tourists, you are a pilgrim on a purposeful journey into eternity.
You began this pilgrim the day you decided to follow Jesus. That was when you realised how sinful you were and how, on your own, you walked in total darkness towards Satan’s city—that horror of a place you don’t want to end up at.
Now you walk in the light because the Saviour you are travelling with is the light. Following him, you cannot be lost, because he is the way. Amidst world falsehood, you are not in error, because he is the truth.
Troubles on the way
No doubt, you have encountered many of the struggles that pertain to being a pilgrim, for we have already been forewarned that the journey will not be easy. For, as scripture states, All who wish to live a godly life (as a pilgrim) will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).
Therefore, if you have experienced your share of struggles, self-denial and sacrifices on account of your faith in Jesus, then you are on the right way.
Remember Mr Christian in John Bunyan’s allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, and the many temptations, distractions and trials he encountered.
Surprisingly, the troubles that confronted Mr Christian way back in 1678 when Bunyan published his book are still afflicting us today.
Bunyan’s Mr Christian always carried a heavy burden on his back. That was only an allegory. In reality, Christ carried our sinful burdens to the cross, washing them away with his blood. Find that book and read it again for fresh inspiration.
When some followers of Jesus abandoned him, he asked his close disciples, “Will you also go away?” Simon Peter’s answer should be ours when we are tempted to go away from Jesus. Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? For you alone have the words of eternal life.”
Peter knew that there was no alternative to Jesus. If you abandon the pilgrimage, whom will you follow? What other relationship can you enter that promises eternal life? With whom will you walk through this dangerous world and be assured that he is able to keep you from stumbling?
He sustains us
So Paul proclaimed, I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to keep that which I have entrusted to him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12). We need to grow in our faith to the point where we can say something similar, then no one and nothing can deceive us to go away from Christ.
One young man exclaimed before abandoning his pilgrimage, “There are too many rules in Christianity.” He got it wrong, dear pilgrim. It is precisely because of this wrong notion that we say Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with the Saviour.
It is not a set of “dos” and “don’ts. Rules and regulations make us even more sinful, but the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord helps us to be obedient to the Word.
Pilgrim, if you are still holding on to the Lord, then you are making progress, and making progress is the secret of this journey. Are you struggling against any human weaknesses? Talk to the Lord about it. He loves to walk with us, talk with us and help us deal with our weaknesses.
No shaking!
Do not get frustrated that you are weak, for we are all weak. But Christ can turn our weakness into strength if we don’t give up. No shaking!
As we continue to study God’s Word, which contains the power to strengthen us, and when we talk to the Lord regularly about the struggles we are going through, he will help us make progress on our pilgrimage.
We have been told that the road to our eternal destination is rough and tough; so when we encounter those troubles, we are assured that we are on the right road.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Pilgrim, learn from the geese; they travel farther flying together than if each flies alone. Similarly, charcoals burn hotter together than as individual embers that soon turn into ashes. Likewise, for support and encouragement, join other pilgrims on this journey at church and Christian fellowship gatherings for encouragement.
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As you journey on this perilous pilgrimage, brighten the corner where you are. It pleases the Lord when his pilgrims are helpful and caring towards people as law-abiding citizens of this world.
The writer is a publisher, author, writer-trainer and CEO of Step Publishers. E-mail: lawrence.darmani@gmail.com