Christiana

by Jim Pappas

  "And," added Honest, "when once this work is begun in the life we are fitted to work for others."

  "Aye," agreed Gaius. "As was said a few moments ago, 'he who comes to convince me, unto himself must die'. And now I have another riddle wrapped up in a story."

  "Say, dear Mr. Gaius," interjected Old-honest, "before you set us off on another track, do answer me one question."

  "Being?"

  "How may we know that we are Christ's?"

  "Hmm."

  "Not just think, or wish, as did Ignorance and Self-will - but know!"

  "A good question. And I answer you thus: ask yourself, 'Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies?'"

  "Ah, indeed."

  Then continued Gaius, "'If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have, all we are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His Spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things'."

  "Ah, Gaius!" said Great-heart. "You speak as a man well traveled on the road of wisdom."

  "Aye," agreed Old-honest. "Say more."

  "'Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated, they now love; and the things they once loved, they now hate. The proud and self-willed become meek and lowly in heart. The vain become serious. The drunken becomes sober, and the filthy pure. The vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside. True pilgrims will seek not the outward adorning, but the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.'"

  "Ah, very good, Friend Gaius," said Old-Honest with an approving nod. "And tell us now what must be done in regards to damages done to others during our captivity to sin."

  "'There is no evidence of genuine repentance," dear Honest, 'unless it works reformation. If he restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, confess his sins, and love God and his fellow men, the sinner may be sure that he has passed from death unto life'."

  "Thank you, Gaius. You speak as one inspired. And now, on to your riddle."

  "Ah, yes. Hear me well. There were once two men that went on pilgrimage: the one began when he was young, the other when he was old. The young man had strong fleshly desires warring against his spirit which made his journey a hard one. The elder man's desires had faded with the color of his hair and his journey was that much easier. Now both men trod their paths with equal honor and faithfulness and came to the Celestial City as conquerors. Now tell me, which of them had their graces shining brightest, since both were victors in the race?"

  "Why, the youngest, of course," answered Honest quickly, "since he had to fight an uphill battle, while the elder of them walked on level ground."

  "Hmm. Well said, Mr. Honest," agreed Gaius. "I suppose my question was too obvious to be much of a riddle, eh?"

  "Well, I don't know about that," answered Honest. "It's just that being a rather elderly gent myself, I have noticed some things about the aged that others may have missed."

  "I would hear more, Mr. Honest."

  "Very well," said Mr. Honest with a nod. "I will comment upon a mistake that we seniors often make."

  "Being?"

  "Namely this: since our desires and energies have grown weak, we find that we do not fall before fleshly temptations as easily as before."

  "And the mistake?"

  "The mistake is - that we think we have attained victory over our passions - when all we have really done is lose the strength to enjoy them."

  "Hah, hah, hah!" laughed Great-heart. "It sounds like righteousness by senility to me."

  "Yes, exactly," answered Honest with a wry chuckle. "Exactly indeed."

  Thus they sat talking till very late. Now next morning, when the family was up and gathered for worship, Christiana asked her son, James, to read a chapter. So he read to them from the 53rd of Isaiah. When he had finished, Mr. Honest asked, "Do tell, someone. Why does this scripture speak of the Savior as coming out of a dry ground? And why did it say that He had no form nor comeliness?"

  James Reading the Bible at Gaius' house

  "I shall attempt part of your question, Old-honest," volunteered Great-heart. "He came out of a dry ground in the sense that He sprang forth from a formalistic church that had lost all the sap and life of true godliness."

  "Ah," answered the old man thoughtfully. "I see truth in your thinking. But what about His having 'no form nor comeliness'? Why, to me, the Savior has surpassing loveliness."

  "Aye. And to me as well," agreed Christiana.

  "These words are spoken of the unbeliever," answered Great-heart. "Since they lack the eye of the Spirit to see within His heart, they judge Him on outward appearance which is like that of any man. It is rather like a man who finds a precious stone encased in an ugly crust. He is as likely to toss it at a crow as to polish it up discover its inward beauty."

  Now, after more discussion and then prayers, the group was ready to begin their day's activities (for certainly you must know by now that Christiana and her boys were no freeloaders, but rather diligent workers. Yea, wherever they visited they improved the buildings, walls, gardens and orchards so diligently that their hosts were loathe to see them depart). So Mr. Great-heart said:

  "Well, dear Mr. Gaius. What chores have you for us today? Weeding the lower garden? Building a new wall? Clearing some land? What?"

  "Well," answered he, "since you are so famous for your skill at war, and since you have Pilgrim's brave sons to assist you, and Christiana's faith to uphold you, may I suggest a battle?"

  Now at this, Christiana's face gathered paleness, but her four boys perked up their ears with interest.

  "With whom?" inquired Great-heart.

  "About a mile from my gate, up in the badlands, there dwells a giant who calls himself Slay-good."

  "A giant, do you say?" said Great-heart. "Well, boys, we know a bit about giants, don't we?"

  To this, the boys nodded assent and drew close.

  "Let me tell you more before you take this one on," cautioned Gaius. "This fellow is the leader of a gang of ruffians and thieves who are a great annoyance to pilgrims. Moreover, he is a cannibal and for fear of becoming his supper, many pilgrims have returned whence they came."

  "What!" exclaimed Great-heart. "Would they really forsake eternity for a few moments of safety?"

  "'Tis always thus," answered Gaius. "That is why God, from time to time, brings warriors such as you to clear the way for the weak. Are you up to it, Mr. Great-heart?"

  "Does he really have to ask, boys?" said Great-heart to his trusty band.

  "Nay!" shouted one and all.

  "Where is he, Mr. Gaius?" asked Matthew.

  "Lead the way, good sir," added James.

  "Hold on, lads," said Gaius. "You two cannot go."

  "Not go!" exclaimed James.

  "Why not?" asked Matthew. "We're not afraid."

  "It matters not," declared Gaius firmly. "You two are newlywed. 'Tis against Scripture for you to be put to hard work or to go to war for an entire year."

  "Hmmm," murmured Great-heart. "That puts a different light on things, for these two are fearless warriors."

  "Nevertheless, Great-heart," affirmed Gaius. "Thus it must be or we will not have God's blessing."

  "Well," mused Great-heart, "I suppose half an army with God's blessing is better than 12 legions without it. Am I correct, Old-Honest?"

  "I would refer you to Gideon for that one, Mr. Great-heart. Didn't he go from 32,000 down to 300?"

  "I figured out the odds once, Mr. Great-heart," volunteered Joseph. "There were one-hundred thirty-five thousand Midianites against Gideon'
s band of 300. That's one man against 450. Surely you and me and Samuel and Old-honest can put down one simple giant, don't you think, sir?"

  "Especially with Mother, Matthew and Mercy and James and Phoebe back here praying for us," added Samuel. "Lend me your spear, Matthew."

  "Then it is settled," said Gaius. "Come, I'll show you the way."

  "Samuel!" called Matthew.

  "Yes?" he answered.

  "Here. Take father's key," said he as he put the key of promise about his brother's neck. "It may save your lives."

  CHAPTER XXI

  Giant Slay-good

  As our heroes marched into the badlands in search of the giant's den, I was carried away in my dream to his abode. It was a dreary cave whose entrance and innards were littered with the bones of Slay-good's many victims. Also, strewn about his cave and scratched into the walls were many of the same symbols and instruments of demon worship that I had seen in the cave of the giant Pagan.

  The lair of Giant Slay-good

  "Bound hand and foot and tossed upon a pile of bones in a far corner was a frail-looking pilgrim named Feeble-mind. The giant had been fattening him up in preparation for a feast to be eaten during this night's full moon. In the main chamber, the giant himself was occupied stirring a simmering cauldron and tossing in such fiery seasonings as were well attuned to his perverted palate.

  As for the giant himself, he was a swarthy fellow about the size of Goliath; that is to say, about ten and one-half feet tall. I beheld as he tossed a pinch of fiery spices into the pot which caused him a violent sneeze. This sent a spray of glowing embers into the trash and greasy rags that littered the floor. These ignited quick as tinder and Slay-good was hard put to stop the ensuing fire. However, with sufficient spitting and stomping, accompanied by a hail of curses, the job was finally accomplished - but not before the den had filled with a cloud of dense blue smoke that hung about 3 feet off the floor.

  As I looked, I saw Feeble-mind moving his lips in silent prayer (as well he might; for, except for the the grace of God, he would soon be bathing in some uncomfortably warm water). Now the giant, chancing to cast a glance his way, saw his lips moving.

  "Hah, hah!" scoffed he with a sneer. "Don't tell me you still believe in prayer!"

  To this, Mr. Feeble-mind responded with a nod.

  "Ha! 'Twill take a greater God than yours to save you from the pot!" Then he spat out a string of blasphemous oaths wherein he dared the God of pilgrims to save this weak-minded dolt against impossible odds (a very dangerous thing for a wicked man to do, as you shall see). Feeble-mind winced at the hail of evil words, but yet said nothing as he kept on with his prayer.

  Now all things being at the ready in the kitchen, the Giant came over to feel of Mr. Feeble-mind's legs in search of some fat (of which, I assure you, dear reader, there was precious little). "Pah!" snorted the giant in angry disappointment. "Skinny as a rail! Don't you pilgrims ever eat? Good for nothing but pilgrim soup. Oh, well. I shall at least enjoy sucking the marrow out of thy bones."

  "Mercy, dear giant. Have mercy," begged Feeble-mind (although against his better judgment).

  "Mercy, do you say!" leered the giant with a lecherous glint in his eye. "I would love to have Mercy. They say she lodges within a mile of this place and I have instructed my minions to keep an eye out for her. Should she ever come abroad without her fearless husband, I shall catch her and cook her for dinner. Heh, heh, heh."

  Now no sooner had these evil words drooled out the corner of his mouth, than what should pierce the smoky gloom of his grotto but the commanding voice of Mr. Great-heart.

  "Slay-good!"

  "Eh! Who is that?" muttered the giant with a start, letting go his hold on Feeble-mind. "Who calls?"

  "My name is Great-heart!"

  "Great-heart? Hmmm, Great-heart," mumbled Slay-good as he scratched his balding pate. "Now who in the world is Great-heart?"

  "Slay-good!" demanded the thundering voice of the warrior.

  "Whaaaat!" roared the irritated giant.

  "Come out of your smoky den!"

  "Sez who?"

  "Says an ambassador from the King of kings. You have done violence to His children and He sends me to put an end to your evil ways. Now come forth!"

  "Hmmph. Did you hear that, skinny one? An ambassador from some wimpy king. Well, I'll show him who's king around these parts. Sorry to interrupt our preparations for supper, chump. I must needs dispose of some small annoyance of some sort. Hmmm," said he with a wicked grin. "Perhaps he is some fat old fool who will drip some fat onto my coals as I roast him. Lucky for you if he is, for 'twill give thee a few more days to fatten up. Heh, heh, heh."

  "Hallooooo!"

  "Coming!" snapped Slay-good ill-naturedly. "Hmmm. Shall I use me club or me sword? Do I need armor or no? Bah! All these decisions are giving me a headache."

  "Slay-good! Are you coming?"

  "Coming! Bah, I'll just use me club and no armor. 'Twill work just fine. Hmmm. Perhaps I'll take along my sacrificial dagger. Yes. 'Twould be a good touch to take out his heart and offer it to the sun. Now where did I put the stupid thing?"

  Meanwhile, not far from the mouth of the cave, Gaius questioned Great-heart:

  "What think ye, Great-heart? Do you think he will come?"

  "Aye, he will come," answered he. "These giants overflow with courage when they think they can win."

  "And does he think he can win?"

  "Aye," answered Great-heart with a confident nod. "He knows not about my brave lieutenants here. Neither does he know about the key of promise or our prayer warriors back home. He will come."

  At that moment there was a stirring in the mouth of the cave and out swaggered Slay-good the giant, accompanied by a dramatic swirl of smoke. Seeing himself face to face with a small army, he was taken aback for a bit and felt a shiver of cold fear race up his spine. Then, remembering past victories, he gathered up his bravado, spat a charge of some dark juice on the rocks, and called out to Great-heart in his most fearsome voice:

  "What do you want, knave?"

  "We want you!"

  "And who are you, stout one?"

  "My name is Great-heart."

  "Great-heart, do you say? Well, good. Me loves roasted heart. And if thine be bigger than normal, so much the better. But before I split thy skull and pick out thy brains, tell me. Why do you come to offer me battle? I have done thee no harm."

  "Yea, but you have."

  "In what way?"

  "In that you have dragged honest pilgrims out of the King's highway and slain them."

  "'Tis true I have. But what is that to you?"

  "'Tis everything to my Lord the King; for an insult offered to the least of His brethren is taken as a personal injury. Therefore has He sent me to avenge His pain."

  "Like how, wee one?"

  "By taking your head from off your shoulders and leaving your body for the fowls of the air."

  "Why you little wimp of a sparrow! I'll show you whose head will roll!"

  And with that, he spat upon his hands, hefted his massive club, and strode down upon them When he had come nearly within striking distance, he stopped and glanced over the grim and determined faces of Gaius, Honest, Samuel and Joseph. Seeing courage and firm resolve written on all faces, he realized, somewhere in the dim recesses of his pea-brain, that he was in for a long afternoon's work (at the least). Therefore, seeking retreat with honor, he halted for a moment and said, "Before we begin, chicken-heart, you do realize that I offer no mercy in these affairs, don't you?"

  "Neither do we!" shouted Great-heart as he bounded forward with a slashing swing of his sword. "Hah!"

  But although the blow was swift and well aimed, the giant, who had been an assassin from his youth up, parried it with with ease.

  "What!" he snarled. "Do you dare send forth the first blow! "I'll show you chicken-hearts how I earned the name of Slay-good!"

  And with that, he roared hideously and began swinging his mighty club in circles an
d figure-eights, which set Great-heart's little army to some furious dodging and twisting.

  "Hah, hah!" cried the giant in the triumph of anticipated victory. "Scattered like a bunch of pins on the bowling green! Ha!"

  But although he made quite the great show of might and main, it cost him dearly; for although they that feast much upon the flesh of the dead may be long on strength, they are powerfully short on endurance. So it was not long 'ere the giant was wheezing and breathing mightily.