A Journey Named Maturity

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Hebrews 11:13

Most Christians are familiar with John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Benjamin Franklin said he supposed it to be “more generally read than any other book except, perhaps, the Bible.” While most know the book, fewer are familiar with the complete title: The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come.

Pilgrim’s Progress is about an “everyman” who makes his way from earth to heaven by varied and difficult paths. But it is on the path that he discovers salvation and grows to maturity. In other words, because God’s goal for us is Christlikeness (Romans 8:29), the journey becomes the destination. It is on the journey toward heaven that we encounter the trials, tribulations, and blessings that conform our inner persons to the character of Christ. Heaven is our home, but being like Jesus is our goal.

The next time the journey seems difficult, remember: it’s supposed to be! If Christ learned obedience through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8), it is likely we will learn it the same way.

The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON