A pilgrim’s progress through a world
tainted by sin…
From the outset I would like to
conclude with this understood assumption, all is vanity and again I say “ALL IS
VANITY” or “Futility wrapped up in a disguise of our independence, driving to
preserve that which will all come to an end regardless of our endeavour’s, come
what may! This then is the conclusion; “acknowledge your sin before a holy God
and seek out his forgiveness! This then is the sole duty of mankind!” Why do I
say this? Because we’re been born into a world full of corruption because of
one man’s sin and we have all partaken of that sin.
Hollywood have just handed out awards
for their finest, but from their inception they have sent the world with all
its inhabitants looking for “straw men”; misguided undertones, with their stamp
of approval on all that is tainted by sin; when in fact God has offered the
finest of His delicacies to all; He sent His Son, His only begotten Son, the
Lord Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sin. We can all autonomously come to
this knowledge, but sadly many will pass Him by.
Here then is an allegory which could
make it easier to understand, for all those trying to make sense of this life…
There was a man from another world who
understood the beauty of all things; he came from a land which had the best of
fruits, a place where the lion laid down with the lamb. It was a world too
beautiful to accurately describe its sheer brilliance. Thorns were unheard of,
blemishes foreign to any of it fruits and sheer joy was an emotion that he
understood all day. Peace was an undertone that filled his environment. It was
an acreage embodied with pure bliss.
And then one day an enemy from another world
saw his opportunity. He was a creature with great power; he was cunning and
full of sin, an evil being. His objective to get this man to follow him, but
this man was not so easily fooled and so he devised a cunning plan and targeted
that which he held closest to his heart. His wife was the apple of his eye and
so this wicked creature approached her with lies and beguiled her into
believing that he had a better life and land for her, unbeknown to her, she was
drawn into his cunning scheme. So she entertained his advice and tried
something forbidden. On the surface what he had to say seemed harmless enough,
but once she indulged in the prohibited, her eyes were opened to a world of
terror filled with death and then it was too late the door to their wonderful
world was closed forever.
They were banished from their blissful
country into a world filled with treachery. Monsters and vile beasts surrounded
them on every side. They were now on the run seeking the preservation of life,
hiding in caves and eating fruit full of worms. Death had become part of their
survival! They now had to track and kill live venison to sustain their family.
They hunted and at the same time were also hunted. The utopia on what was once
peaceful had long been forgotten. Pain and suffering now had become a way of
life with death continually knocking at their door.
Until one day the greatest of beings from
another world witnessed their dilemma and took pity on them, HE made a way of
escape for them. The only true God of the entire universe, both seen and unseen
sent His Son to remove the curse that now ruled their world. This God-man was
not a man of war but a man of peace and yet combat surrounded him and the evil
beast that had deceived the woman set out with all his enlisted infantry to
destroy him but to no avail. He did not succeed! Nevertheless the surmountable
pressure cost the son of God his life, but with it came away of escape for
mankind. Now there was hope where there was once only death and destruction,
the wheel had turned and a way of escape was now on offer for all who would
dare to clutch at it with both hands. What was needed was a simple cry for
forgiveness. Sadly many continued in their old ways, pride and sin had blinded
them. It was the way they had been accustomed too. However some did reach out
and cry for forgiveness. For the fortunate few the shackles of their blinding
spell of destruction had now been broken and the hope of a new world was just
over the horizon. So they packed their bags and set out on a pilgrimage with
their flag of “HOPE” flying high. Leaving behind the lifestyles they once
lived.
The journey was rough as they still
hid for cover from all the terror that surrounded them. Some even found themselves
going back to the way they once lived but before long they came to their senses
and reunited themselves with those of the “caravan of hope”. There were still
thorn and thistles penetrating their hardened feet, but no matter, they stayed
the course and even though they were looked upon by the bystanders as weak
madmen they knew what was on offer. Utopia once again in a land full of bliss
and a place where the lamb was feeding next to the lion; a territory where the
waters were crystal clear and sweet to their palates, with streets of gold, with
no more death nor destruction playing any part in their lives. HOPE fueled
their motivation! It took them their entire lifetime to reach their
destination, but they all eventually arrived. It was worth it all!
They had now earned the right to rule
this new city for they had been tested along their journey and now had
experienced the harshness of that old sinful world. They now knew what to look
out for and they ensured that their children no longer made the same mistake
their grandparents made. It was a land filled with no pain, nor crying,
heartbreak was no longer a consideration. They were forever thankful to the one
who died for them because he had been raised to life again and HE seated on a
throne in the Land called the New Jerusalem and He was their king.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)
Signing
off
Tyrone
