John Bunyan's greatest work, The Pilgrim's Progress, has touched millions of lives throughout history, reminding believers that if we continue to persevere and follow the straight path, we will eventually be with the King in the Celestial City. But John didn't always have such a strong faith in God's grace ...
John Bunyan spent much of his early years causing trouble and acting out. He had a bad reputation in Elstow, England, where he lived. His parents couldn't control him, and he had no self-control either.
He was a happy-go-lucky young man, but the thought of hell tormented him day and night. So, he decided to do something honorable and sacrificial. He left home around the age of 16 to join the army in an attempt to earn his salvation.
While in the army, John switched duties with another solider, and an enemy's bullet struck the other soldier. God had spared him from danger, and he began to believe God wanted him alive for a reason. But he couldn't shake the feeling that if he died, he would end up in hell. So he turned his life around and tried to be as "good" of a person as he could.
When he was about 21, he met three women who were so full of joy and peace because of putting their trust in Jesus. The women and their pastor encouraged John to trust the One who saves those who cannot save themselves. "By grace are we saved through faith," the pastor explained. John finally understood, and from that day forward, he trusted completely in the Lord.
Full of joy, John began to share his faith with others. Preaching outside an official government church was against the law; consequently, John was put in jail. While in jail, he began to write a story about a Christian pilgrim who struggles, but because of God's great grace, remains on the narrow path to heaven.
In 1678, a few years after John's release from jail, he took that story, The Pilgrim's Progress, to a printer with very little hope that it would be of much significance. However, that book would go on to be one of the bestselling books of all time. Since the first printing, it has been translated into more than 200 languages and distributed around the world.
John's trust in God's Word is an inspiration to believers who struggle to have faith in His promises. Once the truth of God's grace was revealed to him, John stood firm in his belief of the truth. His story helps us remember that the promises of Scripture are steadfast, and as long as we continue on the straight path, we will one day be with our King. |
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