The Flatterer

welcome to another Pilgrim’s Progress post! Today I’m gonna do something a little bit different.

So I am still gonna keep the contexts and my thoughts but I’m just providing brief context besides a certain part that I want to highlight. With that being said, I hope you enjoy this post

context

So Christian and Hopeful had gone on, with the man named Ignorance following them. They got led astray by another man who told them that he was going to where they were: the Celestial City. But he really wasn’t.

The stranger got them entangled and caught. But a ‘Shining One’ as John Bunyan calls some from Heaven – I think – came (he had a whip.) It actually turned out to be Flatterer.

then said he with the whip, “it is Flatterer, a false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light.”

and then he freed them and truly set them back on the right path after asking them, “how come you followed the flattery even though you were warned by the shepherds not to?”

They answered that they’d not ever imagine a well dressed and well mannered man would’ve led them astray. (they talk for a bit then he leaves).

Then they met a man named Atheist who was exactly what his name was. He urged Christian and Hopeful that the Celestial City didn’t exist – that they were walking a pointless road, on a pointless journey.

But Hopeful remembered the last encounter they had. He insisted that Atheist was not truthful and that he would keep going to Mount Zion. Christian agreed and they tried to go on their way.

Then they talk about Hopeful’s conversion from worldly to walking with the one true God. It was a good conversation but I’m focusing on the first part of the story. But something (out of a lot) I learned from Hopeful’s journey to Christ was

the world couldn’t satisfy my desires – there’s something always missing (Christ). The world breaks me down, Jesus picks me up.

my thoughts

Alright. So I’ll start on what I thought about when a Flatterer led the pilgrim’s away.

As Christians, someone is always going to be out to get us until we reach Heaven. So we need to be aware because some people are right out with it that they have a problem with us, and some people are more subtle and sly. Like they act like good people but then they actually despise Jesus/Christians.

So as Christians we should be alert, like it says in 1 , 2, and 3 John so many times. Here’s an example:

1 John 2:3-5

“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in Him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him…”

1 John 2:6

“whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked

See? very good examples right there Next, I wanted to say a bit about Hopeful’s conversion.

So many people try the world’s way to try and fill that place were the Holy Spirit is just meant to be and give satisfaction and God’s love. But nothing can fill you up or satisfy you when it’s from the world.

the worldly “good” stuff is temporary. Before you know it, you’re back in your room sobbing.

but God’s goodness is forever. And when the struggles come, sure it’s hard but I’ve never felt so much at peace and reassurance when I lean on God and give Him my troubles.

1 John 2:17

“and the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides FOREVER.”

So there you have it this world isn’t enough for us, we need the Lord to lean on and most definitely guide us. And let me go ahead and tell you that I’m walking with the Lord right now and it’s AMAZING.

Even through all my struggles and fears I have this peace that makes no sense because I put my trust in Him alone. He’s my firm foundation. And as long as I’m standing on Him, I won’t sink down.

I know so many people at my church who didn’t grow up in it, or who walked away, but they are one of the most joyful and inspirational people. It’s just so beautiful to hear their stories of how they each were struggling with something, they’d tried the world’s ways and it left them broken and lost.

But once they met Jesus, they were all in and they are just so whole and amazing. Such an encouragement to me

conclusion

well I hope you liked this post! Feel free to comment or anything I’ve enjoyed writing this post so thanks for reading!

Make sure to keep following along and keep reading! I also recommend checking out Chrysten.me it’s very cool and a wonderful site!

thanks for reading