"Thy righteousness is in heaven". These were the words a young John Bunyan heard while walking through a field one day. After years of struggle, and a spiritual self-doubt that at times drove him to despair, he was at last closer to the freedom he sought so thoroughly throughout his life.
In Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, he recounts this experience:
"So when I came home, I looked to see if I could find that sentence, ‘Thy righteousness is in heaven’, but could find no such saying; wherefore my heart began to sink again. [But something] was brought to my remembrance: 1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV): 'Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.' By this word I saw the other sentence true; for by this scripture I saw that the man Christ Jesus… is our righteousness and sanctification before God."
Later, he would memorialize this experience writing Pilgrim's Progress while imprisoned in Bedford Gaol.
Stories and Letters
The tale of the burden of sin and the gift of salvation.
There is something gripping about the first chapter of Pilgrim’s Progress. Perhaps it is the fairy tale beginning—once upon a time—which becomes incredibly familiar, especially as it tells the tale of the burden of sin and the gift of salvation; it is possibly the only "fairy tale" that is true for its readers. Especially those who repent and put their faith in Christ. Excerpts from the chapter read:
"…the more he (Christian) read the Book, the more conscious did he become of a heavy burden on his back."
'What nonsense you talk' replied his wife, 'there’s nothing on your back.'
"Christian made no reply. He was certain there was a burden on his back because he could feel the weight of it."
Later in the Chapter:
“…See over there,” Evangelist said, and Christian turned and looked… He could see a kind of glow in the sky... “Now my friend, keep that light in your eye. When you reach the gate, knock and you will be told what to do…Christian did not wait for any more but he started to run…"
"…But he was not allowed peace for long. His wife and children saw him running and they followed him and cried out quite angrily to know why he was running off. Christian did not want to be stopped. He put his fingers in his ears and ran on harder than ever."
A Change of Heart
Reading this to my daughter, I was struck by the words. They took me back to my own salvation in 2009, at a church camp, and to an email I wrote to my parents afterwards. In it, I shared my thoughts and the eventual decision to leave my job. It was aptly titled "A Change of Heart". Allow me to share a few lines:
Dear Mom and Dad
I approached the weekend wearily because I knew we were attending a Christian Camp, which was not something I really wanted to attend; hordes of happy people believing in something I was too cynical to give a chance, I arrived there indifferent and felt unchallenged by their beliefs and their convictions…
…I don't know what I’m going to become in life. I know what I want to be and have tried to arrange my life in such a way that I have as much control of the outcome as possible. But it has proved impossible…
…I've become happy behind a book and I’ve become happy ignoring anything spiritual or religious. I've read so much on these and I’ve never found any kind of answer. I've heard so much about God, yet I've never experienced Him…
But a change of heart begins...
…yet strangely, when I left the first meeting, having heard the preaching, something in me wanted to tell people about it—about everything the preacher had said… I was buzzing, happy, smiling, and chatting about things I usually would have coiled away from…
…I couldn't explain what I felt although it was a sort of happiness and confusion…
…(speaking of my job) I feel that the people surrounding me here are not healthy for me. If I serve the Lord I want to do it wholeheartedly, no matter what friends, dreams and aspirations I may have to put aside…
…if there is a God, and I can't deny the presence of something greater after this weekend, then it’s Him who I want to guide me. I can do this—but I need a God to believe in…
…I can't ask you to understand. All I know is that something deep in my heart has changed…
All my love
Greg
17 years ago, I wrote these words. It was now my turn to run to the light.
From pilgrim to pilgrim God’s abounding grace continues.
From pilgrim to pilgrim God’s abounding grace continues. We may recall Paul’s conversion, Martin Luther’s ‘tower experience’, John Wesley’s Aldersgate experience and the strange ‘warming of his heart’. Or, now, Bunyan’s walk in the field. And what of C.S. Lewis, who described himself as "the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England", or Francis Thompson’s epic poem in which God is pictured as the relentless "Hound of Heaven"?
God woos and woos. As for me, God woo'd and woo'd. Until eventually I gave in. For the first time in my life, I knew not only that he existed, but that his love and grace were absolutely real.
Salvation has no natural explanation. It is the gift of God and the sovereign exercise of his grace. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 Paul tells us that anything spiritual is foolishness to the natural man. We must simply confess that only God can change the hearts of humans. While others may influence the mind, a change of heart belongs to God alone.
Bunyan’s warning
I kept running towards the light.
Yet as there is God’s plan, there is also our old master’s, which is made manifest through all sorts of schemes and voices; through those who, like Bunyan’s wife, cannot see in the spirit. I remember, just before leaving my city, the enemy played his strongest hand: he offered me the lead singer of a band, the lead cast member in a play at a National Arts festival, and the potential role of Director at a top television station. All on the same day. As spiritually immature as I was, the spirit of God helped me to recognize the enemy’s plan and, like Christian, I kept running towards the light.
It is time to run to Christ
We are living in a time where I believe we must let go. Especially of those things that hinder us from entering God’s plan. God’s grace will help us—we must simply be willing.
The attraction of the world is strong.
I recently had a coffee meeting with a young man, and, as I reflect, I realize the enemy is offering him a strong set of cards. But there are many like him. I meet them at school every week. As they leave my office, I realize how often we attempt to serve two masters. Deep within their hearts they have the desire to serve the Lord, yet the attraction of the world is strong—it is a quandary faced by all who have felt the call to Christ.
It is time to resist.
But there is no peace like the peace that comes when we obey God. Nor are there any riches that come close to the treasure of Christ’s will. The enemy will tell us otherwise. But it is time to resist him. If you are reading this, never believe that the enemy can quench the thirst in your soul. Only God can do that. We may be weak and we may struggle, but we must be willing to lose.
God continues to speak
I fondly remember an experience in church one day, where, during worship, these words came to my heart:
In Your presence Lord
I hear You say, salvation is all of Mine.
I hear the words it is all of Mine, salvation is all of Mine.
And in Your presence I hear You call, ‘oh sinner do come in.
Come in oh sinner, take my life, oh sinner do come in.
Salvation from pilgrim to pilgrim is all of grace. Let us take it all and live with everything for him. To close, and on a different note, I have been searching for a production to do at school next year. This year it was The Prodigal Son. I think next year it will be Pilgrims Progress.
Greg Kyle has been a dedicated high school educator for 16 years and currently serves as the Head of Student Affairs, specializing in History and English at his High School. He is also a pastor in a church in South Africa. With a passion for the well-being of children and adolescents, as well as that of adults, he has spent years addressing the challenges people face, both personally and spiritually. His commitment has extended to writing, having contributed to newsletters and essays over time as an educator and pastor.
