Hated By The World

Journey to the Celestial City #53. In our continuing look at John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” today we find the man, Christian, and his companion, Faithful, entering in upon Vanity’s Fair. Their entrance can’t help but bring on a “hubbub,” a stir, as the two men are diametrically opposite the people of that place. In clothing, in speech and in non-desire for the merchandise of the fair, Christian and Faithful stand separate thus inviting the contempt of onlookers. When asked what they would buy, their statement: “We buy the truth,” sends the fair into a frenzy and unbridled turmoil. And so it is with believers in the world. We are aliens. We are foreigners. Our citizenship is of a different place. Our allegiance is to a different master. This does not and can never go over well with those who hate Christ, despise His name and look upon His work on the cross as irrelevant, odious. “‘If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.'” (John 15:18-19) “‘These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.'” (John 16:33) More to come in the next blog post. Check back soon. (To read this entire blog post series, scroll down to “Pilgrim’s Progress Series” in the left sidebar.) pp 82-83