Life! Life! Eternal life!

In Pilgrim’s Progress, we have the story of Christian, a man living in the city of Destruction, and after reading the call of the Lord in a book, Christian believes and turns to go toward the Celestial City.

As he leaves his home to begin his journey to the Celestial City, his wife and children call after him to impede him—but he doesn’t listen. Rather, he plugs his ears, and, saying “Life! Life! Eternal life!”, he runs like mad away.

This lucid depiction of what it’s like to pursue the things of God blew me away.

We’ve got to throw away the sins, and even just the weights, this world and this flesh yearn for and run the race set before us with all the endurance necessary (See Hebrews 12:1). Pray that a call like this can ring from your lips and let Christian’s cry be our own.

“Life! Life! Eternal life!”

It’s not easy, y’all, to run from the things we think we need—especially when the things that are wrong can feel so right, just like your family’s pleas would be if you were running from it. The flesh calls us to sin “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14) and say “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)

Furthermore,

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” (Heb 11:24-26)

Leave all sin behind you! Of course, it’s not possible without Jesus. We need His help—which brings me to yesterday’s post—check that out here!