"The Pilgrim's Progress," by John Bunyan

This is a classic that every Christian should read at least once. An extended allegory of the Christian life, Bunyan describes the journey of "Christian" as he makes his way from his native City of Destruction to the goal of his pilgrimage, the Celestial City. Along the way, as he meets with assorted characters (with such memorable names as "Mr. Worldly Wiseman," "Talkative," and "Mr. Money Love"), is beset with all sorts of trouble (including "Vanity Fair" and the "Doubting Castle"), and is helped by his fellow-pilgrims and others, Christian in his journey illustrates what the pilgrimage of faith is all about.

Bunyan's story reminds us that, like Christian, and like our forefathers before us, we are "strangers and exiles on the earth," seeking a "better country, that is, a heavenly one." (Hebrews 11:13, 15). Like Christian, we must leave all behind in the City of Destruction, calling out on the way, "Life, life, eternal life." Like Christian, we must take the burden of our sin and guilt to the cross of Christ, where it falls off into the selpuchre below. And like Christian, we will at times transverse the Slough of Despond, and we will find need to escape from the Doubting Castle by taking from our breasts the key called "Promise."

The Pilgrim's Progress is also helpful for encouraging what I would consider biblical, healthy self-examination. Christian meets up with many false pilgrims, who claim to be on their way to the Celestial City, but who in fact perish along the way. They are turned aside by a love of money, or they are unwilling to suffer the reproach of the cross, or they forsake the narrow and difficult path for the way that is broad and easy but leads to death (which way Christian actually took, but was ultimately saved from it). Talkative knew all about religion but had no heart knowledge of it. Ignorance deceived himself into thinking he would receive entry into the Celestial City, but he did not have the necessary certificate to get in.

As Christians, we are prone to err like these in the story who ultimately fail in their pilgrimage. As Bunyan depicts the nature of genuine, saving faith through both the words and deeds of Christian and his companions, we are able to see our own hearts more clearly.

But more than anything, Bunyan's story is a great encouragement for those who are fellow-pilgrims with Christian. His description of the glories of the Celestial City at the end of the book is a powerful reminder of what Christ has prepared for those whose hearts are set upon "the highways to Zion." (Psalm 84:5).