Bunyan on "Your Best Life Now"

Here is an excerpt from John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress"...

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand,
and had him into a little room, where sat two little children,
each one in his chair.  <He showed him passion and patience>
The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience.
Passion seemed to be much discontented; but Patience was very quiet.
Then Christian asked, What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?
<Passion will have all now.  Patience is for waiting>
The Interpreter answered, The Governor of them would have him stay
for his best things till the beginning of the next year;
but he will have all now:  but Patience is willing to wait.

<Passion has his desire>
Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure,
and poured it down at his feet, the which he took up
and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn.
<And quickly lavishes all away>  But I beheld but a while,
and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

{78}
CHR.  Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter
more fully to me.

<The matter expounded>
INTER.  So he said, These two lads are figures:  Passion, of the men
of this world; and Patience, of the men of that which is to come;
for as here thou seest, Passion will have all now this year,
that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world,
they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay
till next year, that is until the next world, for their portion of good.
<The worldly man for a bird in the hand>  That proverb,
`A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush', is of more authority
with them than are all the Divine testimonies of the good of the world
to come.  But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away,
and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all
such men at the end of this world.

<Patience has the best wisdom>
CHR.  Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom,
and that upon many accounts.  First, because he stays
for the best things.  Second, and also because he will have
the glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags.

{79}
<Things that are first must give place; but things that are last
are lasting>
INTER.  Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world
will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone.  Therefore Passion
had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had
his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion,
because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last,
because last must have his time to come; but last gives place
to nothing; for there is not another to succeed.  He, therefore,
that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it;
but he that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly;
<Dives had his good things first> therefore it is said of Dives,
"Thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
[Luke 16:25]

CHR.  Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now,
but to wait for things to come.

Beware of getting "your best life now" and beware of those who promise such things.  I can only think of one who promised kingdoms, riches, and honor in this life...remember??? He tempted Jesus in the desert.  Will he not also tempt us with the same???

Comments

[Michael Pate]

Right on bro. I just finished PP for my Spiritual Disciplines class and every page exposed my comfortable Christianity I need to change. See you soon.