"GOOD-WILL: But did none of them
follow you to persuade you to go back?
CHRISTIAN: Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable. But when they realized that their arguments had not been successful, Obstinate turned back in a rage, though Pliable did come with me for a short while.
GOOD-WILL: But why did he not persevere even to this place?
CHRISTIAN: Quite frankly, we did press on together, that is until we came to the Slough of Despond into which we both suddenly tumbled. At that point, my neighbor Pliable was immediately discouraged and refused to go any further. As a result, he drew himself out of the mire on that side which was nearest to his house; he then told me that I would possess the brave country alone on his behalf. So he went back in the direction of Obstinate and I proceeded forward to this Gate.
GOOD-WILL: How sad it is concerning Pliable in that he had such little appreciation of the heavenly glory to come, so much so that he did not consider it worth encountering a few hazards and difficulties to obtain it." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Good-Will continues to ask Christian about how he has arrived at the Gate of Salvation or as Bunyan referred to it as the Wicket Gate. Good-Will is asking now, if anyone tried to coerce Christian to not continue on his journey.
Christian tells Good-Will about his first two traveling companions. They were aptly named, Obstinate and Pliable. Obstinate was a hard hearted individual that in no way was able to hear nor accept any warnings that Christian tried to give him. He was like the man who received the seed of faith that the Sower spread along the wayside.
CHRISTIAN: Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable. But when they realized that their arguments had not been successful, Obstinate turned back in a rage, though Pliable did come with me for a short while.
GOOD-WILL: But why did he not persevere even to this place?
CHRISTIAN: Quite frankly, we did press on together, that is until we came to the Slough of Despond into which we both suddenly tumbled. At that point, my neighbor Pliable was immediately discouraged and refused to go any further. As a result, he drew himself out of the mire on that side which was nearest to his house; he then told me that I would possess the brave country alone on his behalf. So he went back in the direction of Obstinate and I proceeded forward to this Gate.
GOOD-WILL: How sad it is concerning Pliable in that he had such little appreciation of the heavenly glory to come, so much so that he did not consider it worth encountering a few hazards and difficulties to obtain it." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Good-Will continues to ask Christian about how he has arrived at the Gate of Salvation or as Bunyan referred to it as the Wicket Gate. Good-Will is asking now, if anyone tried to coerce Christian to not continue on his journey.
Christian tells Good-Will about his first two traveling companions. They were aptly named, Obstinate and Pliable. Obstinate was a hard hearted individual that in no way was able to hear nor accept any warnings that Christian tried to give him. He was like the man who received the seed of faith that the Sower spread along the wayside.
"When anyone hears the word of
the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches
away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the
wayside." Matthew 13:19
"Even when Christ wrought miracles and preached sermons there were numbers of His hearers who remained utterly unmoved. If even the hearers of Christ did not believe, how much more should we expect to find unbelief among the hearers of His ministers?Let the truth be spoken and confessed man's obstinate unbelief is one among many of the indirect proofs that the Bible is true." J.C. Ryle
"Even when Christ wrought miracles and preached sermons there were numbers of His hearers who remained utterly unmoved. If even the hearers of Christ did not believe, how much more should we expect to find unbelief among the hearers of His ministers?Let the truth be spoken and confessed man's obstinate unbelief is one among many of the indirect proofs that the Bible is true." J.C. Ryle
The second individual,
Pliable, went with Christian for awhile, but when he encounter a
trial at the Slough of Despond he abandoned his journey. He is like the man who
received the seeds from the Sower on stony ground. His response is
very superficial. He turns away when things don't turn out the way he desires
or when the good feelings go away.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Matthew 13: 20-21
Christian, is like the man who has received the word on the prepared ground. It had been plowed up and fertilized. He was made to understand the word and the warnings that it contained. He had a heavy burden placed on his back that contained his conviction of sin. His ground was very fertile.
He who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:23
How is your ground? As Christians, we allow our ground to grow weeds or allow the enemy to toss rocks onto our ground. Satan and his demons attend church more than we do.We must make sure to keep the ground of our heart weed and rock free. The weeds and thorns grow when we allow the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches take a place in our heart. These choke the word, and we become unfruitful. If we are unfruitful, this is a major reason why. As for the rocks, they are unconfessed habitual sins. These rocks cause the believer to stumble and after awhile they do not rise and die there. There is a belief that we do not need to fear sin in our lives. We can play with fire and not get burned. Many Christians including pastors have fallen into this fallacy and are no longer with us. Keep care to make sure your heart is weed and rock free.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
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