The book, Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyon, is a classic work in allegory form that offers tremendous insights into the Christian life. The story is about a man, “Christian,” who is journeying from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, and all the challenges he faces along the way. On his journey, Christian meets another traveler whose name is “Hopeful,” and they become fellow sojourners along life’s road. Because they are together, they are able to avoid many of the challenges to their faith they encounter along the way, finding strength in each other. When one is weak or discouraged, the other is strong. When one is susceptible to temptation the other helps him resist. When one is taken in by false theology or deceptive philosophy, the other stands firm. To be sure, even with their mutual support, Christian and Hopeful sometimes fail but their companionship is a source of strength and hope, even in their failure. Just as David’s friend Jonathan helped him find strength in God when he was running for his life from King Saul (1 Sam. 23:16), Christian and Hopeful found themselves to be stronger when they were standing together.
Bunyon’s classic tale affirms a profound truth we often fail to see how very much we need each other as fellow Christians. Often, we assume that the road of faith and personal relationship with Christ is one we must walk alone. Sure, our church family is important for corporate worship, fellowship, and Bible study, but when it comes to our personal struggles of faith, we think we must go it alone. To the contrary, God did not intend for us to be lone rangers on this journey; to face the lion of sin or the giant of despair on our own. Rather, he has made us part of each other as one body—his body—and given us a vital role to play in each other’s lives. The writer of Hebrews offers some helpful counsel to us as we journey together on the road of discipleship. He says, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Heb. 3:13). My prayer is that you have someone in your life you are able to share the journey of faith with, and that you find strength in each other, just as Christian and Hopeful did.
Pastor Jon