Pilgrim’s Progress[1] is one of the greatest Christian books of all time. Published in 1678, it has never been out of print, and has been translated into over 200 languages.[2] In fact, it’s one of the greatest pieces of English literature ever written. Not only that, it is filled with rich theology presented in a way that even children can grasp it. I love teaching through its material.
It’s possible not everyone knows Pilgrim’s Progress has two parts. The first part portrays the conversion of a man named Christian and his journey to the Celestial City. The second part describes the conversion of Christian’s wife, Christiana, and their children and their journey to the Celestial City. For many reasons, the end of Christiana’s story is one of my favorite parts. It’s a favorite because it beautifully presents Christian people courageously facing their own death.
Christiana is the picture of a godly woman. Her heart is set on her Savior. He is her chief love. When the time came for her to die, a messenger of death was sent and “an arrow with a point sharpened with love, let easily into her heart.” I believe this describes death by heart failure. Knowing that her death was imminent, Christiana made preparations.
She had meager possessions, so she left what she had to the poor. Next, she called her children to her. After blessing them, she spoke of how their faithfulness to Christ comforted her. She also took that moment to remind her children they too would die and to be ready for that time.
She then blessed her friends and exhorted them to walk faithfully. Her last words were these: “I come, Lord, to be with you and bless you!”[3] Do you see with what confidence she faced her own death? Eat your heart out Rosie Riveter!
You can face death with confidence only when this life has become less valuable than the next; when your love and longing for Christ is greater than for the temporary trappings of this world. When that happens, death becomes desirable rather than despised. You may say with the Apostle Paul, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Philippians 1:23).
You and I will die. After that, we will face the judgment. At Christ’s judgment seat, we will stand, either clothed in Jesus’ righteousness or in the menstrual garments of our own works (cf. Isaiah 64:6). We will either be covered by Christ’s blood of life or by the stinking blood of death. Those who by faith are in Christ, may, with Christiana, say upon their death bed, “I come, Lord, to be with you and bless you!”
[1] Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim’s Progress. Edited by W. R. Owens. New ed. Oxford World’s Classics. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2003.
[2] Hill, Peter. “Early Translations of English Fiction into Arabic: The Pilgrim’s Progress and Robinson Crusoe.” Journal of Semitic Studies 60, no. 1 (2015): 177–212.
[3] Bunyan, John. Pilgrim’s Progress [Illustrated] [Modern English]: Updated, Modern English. With Original Illustrations. . ANEKO Press. Kindle Edition.
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