Through the Waters
Baptist Pastor John Bunyan was imprisoned for 12 years for preaching the gospel. It was during those years of imprisonment that Bunyan wrote one of the most read books in Christian history. “Pilgrims Progress” is an allegorical story about a man named Christian. The story follows Christian from his conversion, through the trials of life in this world, and on to heaven after death. Bunyan incorporates a verse from Isaiah 42 in his description of Christian’s death. It is worth quoting at length here:
I saw Christian and his companion go on together until they saw the gate. Between them and the gate was a river but there was no bridge to cross and the river was deep. These pilgrims were astonished at the sight of the river but the men that were with them said, “You must go through the river or you cannot come in the gate.”
The pilgrims asked if there was a shallow place where they could cross and the men who were there told them, “They would find it to be more shallow the more they trusted the King of the Great City.”
As they stepped into the river and the waters flooded around them, they remembered the words from the Book which said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers they shall not overflow you.”
Then coming out of the river on the other side, they found themselves standing on a mighty hill, their clothing of mortality had been left behind in the river and they went up through the air as if a heavy weight had been lifted. Shining men spoke sweet words to them as they approached the city saying, “You are going to the paradise of God where you will eat the tree of life. You will be given white robes and every day you will walk and talk with the King. There you will serve Him with continual praise. There you will enjoy the company of friends who have preceded you.”
Now I saw these two men enter the city and they were transfigured and shone like gold. They were given an instrument with which to praise the King and a crown as a token of honor. I heard all the bells of the city begin to ring with joy. The city shone like the sun, and its streets were paved with gold. There I saw a multitude of people from every nation, walking with crowns on their head singing the praises of the King. Also, there were innumerable host of angels crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.”
And when I saw and heard all these things, I wished that I were with these pilgrims.
Amen.