“So I saw in my dream that the man began to run.
“Now he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying ‘Life! Life! Eternal life!’ So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain.
“The neighbours also came out to see him run; and as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return.”
John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress
“Madness!” declared his wife and family. “Madness has rattled his brains,” said his neighbours. What could have possessed that man to make such a break? Was it indeed madness, as all about him insisted? Nay, reader. The fact is that the man had never experienced a saner moment. Light from heaven had struck his longing soul, and the spell of sin was finally broken. Sanity possessed him at last! He knew what he had to do. He would make his break from sin. Salvation must be found at any cost! Neither fears, nor family, nor friends, nor devils could persuade him otherwise. His feet couldn’t carry him fast enough to the cross of Jesus Christ.
Obstacles came. Circumstances distressed. The blind bid him return. Demons demoralized. Yet still, he ran! He faltered betimes, even stumbled. But, as a drowning man desperate for the breath of life, he thrust himself upward, against all odds, and against all the voices calling for his return. Hear the battle-cry of his soul: “Life! Life! Eternal life!” He had a purpose. He had a goal. Never had he experienced such a crisis as this. At any cost, he must obtain his desired treasure. It was settled. He would die trying.
Hell gaped at his feet and taunted, as though to call him home.This but impelled our runner on with an even more urgent and quickened pace. So much was at stake! At last–his eyes brightened by faith–he beheld the Lamb of God who had been slain for his redemption, and, weeping, he cast himself down at His pierced feet. And it seemed ‘twas but a moment, and that sin-stained runner bear no sin-stains anymore! And, faster than lightning, angels wrote his name in the Lamb’s Book of Life! As a river, peace overflowed his redeemed soul, and he leaped and shouted aloud with unspeakable joy.
He ran. He obtained.
Dear reader, if you would have eternal life, YOU MUST RUN! You must be saved from sin at any cost– our never-ending eternity is at stake. The case is urgent and you must move now! Flee to the cross of Jesus Christ! Flee the wrath to come and stop for none. Wives, wait not for your husbands. Husbands, wait not for your wives. Tarry not for any!
Obey God, not man. Fear God, not man. Let people say what they will. While they mock, run!
