Are You Asleep?

"I looked then after Christian to see him go up the Hill, where I perceived he fell from running to walking, and from walking to crawling upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness of the place. Now about the mid-way to the top of the Hill was a pleasant arbor, made by the Lord of the Hill for the refreshing of weary travelers; when therefore Christian arrived, he sat down to rest. Then he pulled his Roll out of his bosom, and read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take a review of the Coat or Garment that was given him as he stood by the Cross. Thus satisfying himself awhile, he at last fell into a slumber, and then into a deep sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night; and in his sleep his Roll fell out of his hand. Now as he was sleeping, there came someone to him and awaked him, saying, Go to the Ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian, has gone through many adventures. He has been watched over the entire time. He has seen the Lord of the City work in his life. Yet, even he was susceptible to resting and falling asleep. Not sleep as in going to bed, but quitting for awhile. Taking a break from his journey.

We are all on a journey. Some of us our on the right. Others of us have yet to be shown it. Others will never see it. This is for those that are own the right path, but have fallen asleep on it. What danger could befall someone for just taking a little siesta?

How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief  and scarcity like an armed man." Proverbs 6: 9-11 


Poverty, as in a lack of money may surely happen, but these verses are referring to spiritual poverty. Many that were active Christians have lost what they first had. Every living species must keep moving, keep adapting, keep modifying. 


The Dead Sea is really dead. Nothing is alive in it, no fish nor plants. Why? The Jordan river and some small canals drain into it. But, unlike other seas or lakes, no river originates from the Dead Sea. As a result, the water depletes only by evaporation. In this process, only water evaporates, leaving the salt behind. The rate at which the Dead Sea loses water is far greater than the rate at which it gets replenished with fresh rainfall. As a result, over a period of time, the water has become saltier. In other words, the Dead Sea has no movement.


Some of us have become like the Dead Sea. We wonder what has happened. What happened to my joy? Why do I not delight in communing with my Lord? What has changed? The answer is nothing. That is the problem! We have stopped living. We are content on remembering what God has done and not what He is doing today. Like Christian, we are looking at our roll, at our coat, at our past.


Awaken Christian from your slumber. Rub the sleep from your eyes. Work out the soreness from your bones and get on the path again.

Escaping Danger and Destruction

"The other two also came to the foot of the Hill; but when they saw that the Hill was steep and high, and that there was two other ways to go; and supposing also that these two ways might meet again with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the Hill; therefore they were resolved to go in those ways. Now the name of one of those ways was Danger, and the name of the other Destruction. So the one took the way which is called Danger, which led him into a great Wood; and the other took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field, full of dark Mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.

 Shall they who wrong begin yet rightly end?
Shall they at all have Safety for their friend?
No, no; in headstrong manner they set out,
And headlong will they fall at last no doubt. "

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian, met these two men on his way to the City. He was on the Way and saw these two climb over the wall. They thought they were safe, since they were where he was. There was a major difference. Christian had been called to the Way. He had been shown how to get to the gate. He had been allowed entrance to the gate. The other two, had gained entrance by their own works. Christian warned them, but they were deaf.

There are those who think they are safe from danger and destruction. Maybe they feel they are safe, because they have been kind and compassionate. Maybe, they think they are safe, because they have attended church and been baptized. That is how the enemy works. He wants us to seek to be good and not to be holy. Only by grace and mercy can we be holy. Only by sharing in Christ's death and resurrection can we conquer death. Cry out for that mercy to be saved!

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

The Way is Narrow!

"I beheld then, that they all went on till they came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, at the bottom of which was a spring. There was also in the same place two other ways besides that which came straight from the Gate; one turned to the left hand and the other to the right, at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way lay right up the Hill. Christian now went to the spring, and drank to refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill, saying,

	The Hill, tho’ high, I covet to ascend,
	The difficulty will not me offend;
	For I perceive the way to life lies here:
	Come, pluck up, Heart, let’s neither faint nor fear;
	Better, tho’ difficult, the right way to go,
	Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress Christian, has met two men who have gained access to the Way by climbing over a wall. They believe they are safe, because they are in the same place as Christian. Christian gained access by being invited. This was grace and grace alone. The two men gained access by their own actions. As the three walk, they are met with three roads. One goes straight, one goes left, and the other goes right. Christian, chooses to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads straight. "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:25-27 There are many roads to take today. Most of these ways have people that promote these roads as the best way. Some of these roads have church leaders as a guide. We are chastised by being too straight and too narrow. The problem is the Way is very straight and extremely narrow. The Ways is so narrow, there is no room for self, for sin, for pride. Those must be left behind. Another problem is that there is a host of people who are stuck at the fork in the road. They are neither choosing the left, right, or straight. They are deluded if they think that no decision will save them. Destruction is coming up from behind him. They have seat down and proclaimed all ways are correct and there is no danger. They are deceived! "The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." James 1:7-8  Any questions, stay on the straight and narrow path. Still have questions? "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all  without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt," James 1:5-6

It is by Grace and Grace alone

"Christian: By laws and ordinances you will not be saved, since you came not in by the door. And as for this coat that is on my back, it was given to me by the Lord of the place where I go; and that, as you say, to cover my nakedness. I take it as a token of his kindness to me, for I had nothing but rags before. It comforts me as I go: Surely, when I come to the gate of the City, the Lord thereof will know me, since I have this coat on my back; a coat that he gave me freely in the day that he striped me of my rags. I have moreover a mark on my forehead, of which perhaps you have taken no notice, which one of my Lord’s most intimate associates fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell you moreover, that I had then given me a roll sealed, to comfort me by reading as I go in the way; I was also told to give it upon my arrival at the Cœlestial Gate, in token of my certain going in after it; all which things I doubt you want, and want them because you came not in at the Gate.
To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon each other and laughed. Then I saw that they went on all, save that Christian kept to himself, and that sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably; also he would be often reading in the roll that one of the Shining Ones gave him, by which he was refreshed."

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian, is talking with two men who have crawled over the wall in a self-effort to gain entrance to the Way. These two men have been mocking Christian and have told Christian that it really doesn't matter how you gain entrance, just as long as you gain entrance.

Christian, though patiently tried to warn them that climbing over the wall would turn out bad for them. To gain access to the Way, one has to be invited by the Lord of the Way. Self-effort gains nothing, but sweat. I do not know anyone following the law as the Sadducees nor Pharisees and they were chastised by Christ. He came that we may be free, not under the law. Christ is interested in your heart!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 


You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 


Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."  Matthew 23:23-25


We cannot change our own motives. No matter how hard we try our motives is who we are. It is only when Christ comes into our lives through Holy Spirit, that our motives are reveled and dealt with. This is by grace and grace alone!


"For it is by his grace that we have been saved through faith, and this faith was not from you, but it is the gift of God," Ephesians 2:8

Don't Judge Me

"Christian: I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your own fancies. You are counted thieves already, by the Lord of the Way; therefore I doubt you will not be found true at the end of the Way. You came in by yourselves, without His direction; and will go out by yourselves, without His mercy. To this they gave him but little answer; only they told him look to himself. Then I saw that they continued walking without much conference with each other; but that these two men told Christian, that they were as good as he; therefore, said they, we don't see any difference from you and us but by only the coat that is on your back, which was, as we think, given to you by some of your neighbors, to hide the shame of your nakedness." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian has run into two men who have climbed over the wall to gain access to the Way. By their self effort they think think they should be accept at the end of the journey as well as Christian will be. Christian was invited and directed to the path that he is on. It was by mercy and grace that he is where he is. The men did not want to hear any negative responses from Christian. They pretty much told him to take care of himself and they would worry about themselves.

"Judge not, that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1 


Does this mean we are not to make a judgement on anyone? Are we to accept everyone and anyone, no matter what they may do or believe? Is this what God wants His children to do?


"For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brothers eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:2-5


I believe it is the attitude that God is interesting in. Are you judging or correcting. Are you knocking someone else and forgetting your situation? Are you seeking reconciliation or division? 

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." Matthew 18:15-17 


Another example is seeking to defend the defenseless. We must be careful that we don't pickup someone else offense, but there are examples of Godly defense. 


"Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabbath." James 5


What have we learned? God is to do the judging. We are to share and help convince what is right and wrong. We are to admonish, reprove, rebuke. We are to encourage others to be better, nudge, prod, and exhort. The differences is what is in the heart. Is there love and humility?


"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." II Timothy 4:1-2


"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." James 5:20 

The Way

"Christian: But will it not be counted trespassing against the Lord of the City who we are bound, to violate his revealed will?
Formalist: and Hypocrisy: They told Christian, That as for that, he needed not to trouble his head; for what they did they had precedence; and could produce, if need be, testimony that it had been done for more than a thousand years.
Christian:  But, said Christian, will your precedence stand at trial?
Formalist: and Hypocrisy: They told him, That custom, being longer than a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as legal by an impartial Judge; and besides, said they, if we get into the way, who cares which way we get in? If we are in, we are in; you are on the way, who came in at the Gate; and we are also on the way, though we came tumbling over the wall; how is your condition better than ours?" John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian is on the path to Celestial City. He has run into two men, who have gained entrance to the path by climbing over the wall. They have not responded to Evangelist. They were not greeted at the gate by Good-Will. They have gained access by their own actions. When Christian questions whether the Lord of the City would welcome them, they respond that they don't know, but that the action of self effort had been done by many for over one thousand years.

Our services are full of people who have never been saved by Christ. They may have walked down the aisle. They may have shaken a pastors hand or prayed a magic prayer, but they have not been saved. What is the answer? What do we do?

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? " 

II Corinthians 13:5

Are you a new creature? Do you love the things of God? Have you been set free? Many pray the prayer, but how many believe what they pray? Is your heart saying what your mouth proclaimed?

"But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:8-10

This isn't works, because only God can give us the grace to believe. We can voice a prayer, but only God can give us the faith to believe. This is the difference between those who come through the gate and those who climb over the wall.

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life."I Timothy 1:12-16

No Trespassing!

"As he was troubling about the three men he spotted two men come tumbling over the Wall, on the left hand of the narrow way; and they quickly caught up to him. The name of one was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I said, they drew up unto him, Christian began a discussion.
Christian: Gentlemen, Where did you come from, and where are you going?
Formalist and Hypocrisy: We were born in the land of Vainglory, and are going for praise to Mount Sion.
Christian: Why didn't you come through the Gate which stands at the beginning of the Way? Don't you know that it is written, That he that comes not in by the Door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?
Formalist and Hypocrisy: They said, That to go to the Gate for an entrance was thought by all their countrymen too far; and that therefore their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Many have their own interpretations of getting to heaven. There is only one way and that way is Christ. There are many that try to make it easier for themselves. They may come to church. They may give to charities. They may 'pay it forward'. All of these are nice, but they are not the way to salvation. The only way is through the gate called Christ.

"Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." John 10:1

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 14:11-14

Formalist is man that places rituals, repetition, and ceremonies above having a relationship with Christ. He is into observances rather than having his life affected by the meaning of those events. His prayers are meaningless replicated utterances. He goes on babbling like the Pagans do. He thinks his prayers will be heard, not by their sincerity, but by their many words. Matthew 6:7

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."
Matthew 15:8-9

Hypocrisy looks the part. He says all the right things. He appears to be perfect. A person we may all want to be like. There is one large problem. He is a fake. He is like a plastic rose, beautiful with no marks. Yet try to take a whiff and you will find there is no fragrance. Hypocrisy is an actor. He has a mask called holiness on. Take it off and his true self is exposed. He is on the stage when people are around.

"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." He answered them, "And why do you transgress the Commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die.' But you say, 'If any one tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You actors! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" Matthew 15:1-9

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you actors! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." Matthew 23:27

Only you can know where you are or who you are. Have you been faking it? Putting on a show? You don't have to. Christ is asking you to stop. Die to your self effort. Tell the truth to God, He knows it anyway. He will welcome you and walk you to the gate of Salvation.