Christiana

by Jim Pappas

"What shall I do with him?" asked Mr. Despondency.

  "Carry him. When he becomes a burden too great to carry, then know that your time is at hand."

  Now Much-afraid, his daughter, upon hearing that her father was to cross over, asked that she might depart with him, which favor was granted. Then Mr. Despondency said to his friends:

  "Dear ones. You all know what a trouble my daughter and I have been - what with all our fears and doubtings. Our will is that our despondency and slavish fears be received by no man forever! When we first became pilgrims, we made the mistake of entertaining twin ghosts named 'Doubt' and 'Fear'. When we realized what they were, we asked them to leave us but they would not depart. Wherefore, we warn pilgrims of all time to shut the doors upon these evil spirits. Entertain them not. No, not even for a moment!"

  "Aye," added Much-afraid. "Had we dismissed them when they first tempted us, who knows but that we would have been such great heroes of faith as some of you are. But we were foolish and we will never be what we could have been. But our Lord is merciful and does the best He can with what we bring to Him. Amen!"

  Now 'ere long there came the day when the grasshopper was indeed too great a burden for Mr. Despondency to bear. So he opened his cage and watched him fly away. Thus he and his daughter came to the brink of the river. The last words of Mr. Despondency were: "Farewell, night! Welcome, day!' His daughter went into the river singing softly to her Lord, but none could understand what she said.

  Then it came to pass awhile after, that there was a post in the town that inquired for one Mr. Honest. So he came to the house where he was and delivered to his hand these lines: "Thou art commanded, O honest one, that within seven nights from this day you shall be ready to present thyself before thy Lord at His Father's house. And for a token that my message is true, 'all the daughters of music shall be brought low'."

  Then Mr. Honest called for his friends and said unto them, "I have been called over the river."

  "Are you sure?" asked Matthew.

  "What?" asked Mr. Honest, cupping his hand to his ear.

  "I said, are you sure?" replied Matthew a little louder.

  "Pure?" replied Mr. Honest loudly. "Well, I do hope I am, for certainly 'tis only the pure in heart that shall see God."

  "No, no. I asked if you were sure!" shouted Matthew.

  "Oh! Am I sure? Is that what you asked? Am I sure?"

  "Aye," said Matthew loudly with a vigorous nod.

  "Oh, yes. I am sure enough all right. Sure I am. The token of the post was that 'All thy daughters of music shall be brought low,' and, indeed, now and then I suspect that my hearing is beginning to fade."

  "Oh, we are sorry for you," said Mercy, who was always seeking ways to care for the aged in their infirmities.

  "What's that?" he yelled.

  "I said I am sorry for you!" she said at nearly a shout.

  "Oh, no need for that," answered he with a chuckle, "for I go to a place where the music is loud enough to wake the dead (if you catch my meaning). But, though I must depart now, I shall make no will for I have nothing to my name except my honesty. And truly, I cannot part with that, for it is my proof of a changed heart."

  Now on the appointed day, he and his friends came to the river and, to their dismay, found it to be raging with the spring melt. Yea, so great was the torrent that it overflowed the banks in some places. But Mr. Honest was not one whit taken aback, for his honesty had come to the attention of one Mr. Good-conscience. This man knew this river quite well and had promised to help Mr. Honest reach the farther shore. The last words of Mr. Honest were, "Grace reigns." So he left the world.

  'Ere long Mr. Valiant-for-truth called his friends together and addressed them thus:

  "I have been called to my Father's house. The postman told me that 'my pitcher shall be broken at the fountain', and indeed, my strength seems to be spilled on the ground. Look," said he, as he struggled hard to draw his sword. "As you can see, I can scarcely hold up my sword." At this word, the weapon slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor. "There, you see! 'Broken at the cistern'. I have got me to this place with much hardship and suffering. Yet I regret not one battle fought nor one wound received. These scars," said he, baring his arm with great effort, "these scars are my witness to the King that I have fought the good fight on behalf of his dear name and cause. My sword!" said he, pointing to the fallen weapon. "My sword I bequeath to he who is man enough to pick it up and follow after me in the defense of truth."

  Then Matthew leaped boldly forward and eagerly seized the coveted Jerusalem blade.

  "Good man, Matthew," said Valiant approvingly. "May God grant you a double measure of your father's spirit. To the rest of you I say, my courage I leave to the pilgrim that will take God at His Word and move forward against apparent impossibilities. My skill I leave to the man or woman or child who will work for it on their knees. My scars? My scars I take with me as tokens of honor. As I have said in private, so I say now to all: the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Rather, the crown is bestowed upon the one who has gotten the victory over himself. Therefore be strong! Quit thyselves like men and fight all thy battles for the glory of our Lord. Amen!"

  When the day came wherein he must depart, many accompanied him to the riverside. As he strode boldly into the raging waters, he said:

  "Death! Where is thy sting?"

  And as he went in deeper, he shouted, "Grave! Where is thy victory?"

  So he was swallowed up of the river and passed over. On the other side, all the trumpets sounded out their glorious welcome and, believe it or not, some of his friends on this side the river swore that they could catch the distant sound.

  After some time more, there came forth a messenger for Mr. Stand-fast who said, "Thou must prepare for a change of life, for thy Master is not willing to be so far from thee any longer."

  Now at this, Mr. Stand-fast was put into a doubt. Discerning this, the messenger said, "Doubt not my words, Mr. Stand-fast. As a token that my words are true, you shall find that 'Thy wheel shall be broken at the cistern'."

  Then he called to him Mr. Great-heart and said unto him, "Sir, I have been called. And although it was not my hap to be much in your good company in the early days of my journey, yet, since the time I met you, you have been profitable to me. Therefore, if you have found me to be worthy, wilt thou do me a favor?"

  "I would be honored," answered Great-heart.

  "When I came from my home," continued Stand-fast solemnly, "I left behind me my wife and five small children. When you return to the land of darkness, go to her, I pray thee. Tell her what has befallen me in the way and how Christ has made me the victor over every foe. Tell of the glories and honors of the place where I go. Describe them in such glowing terms as will make her hunger and thirst after righteousness. Make her long for the peace of heart to which she is now a stranger. Will you do it?"

  "Aye," answered Great-heart, his voice husky with emotion. "I promise that I, or one better than I, shall speak to her of things that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard."

  "Thank you. When you go to her, give her this ring. Tell my beloved about Christiana, its former owner. Tell how she also remained behind but repented of her ways. Tell how she got the victory over the last of foes. Speak to her eloquently of the joys and pleasure that she now partakes of. Inform her of Christiana's children and grandchildren who live lives of hope and peace this day because of her example. Will you do it, sir?"

  "Aye. I shall do it!"

  "God bless you, good sir. I have yet these two powerful things to bestow. One is this bottle. Take it."

  "What is in this tiny bottle?"

  "These are the tears I have shed in prayer for my wife. My God has put them in a bottle and granted that I may send them to her as a token of my love."

  "Ah."

  "Also take her this little book. 'Tis Mercy's diary. In it there are many lessons from our journey. Moreover, she has been given a glimpse of that better land to which
I now go. An account of these things are written to give her both hope and instruction. If she give good heed to what is written herein it will save her from many a slip and stumble. Take it."

  "I shall."

  "Mr. Stand-fast," said Mercy.

  "Yes, Mercy?"

  "Forget not Christiana's fiddle, sir. It has cheered us oft on our journey and it will do the same for Marriana."

  "Ah, yes, good sir. Take her Christiana's fiddle, for there is none like it for beauty of tone or ease of playing."

  "I shall take all of these things," said Great-heart with a determined set to his jaw. "And frankly, given all these wondrous tokens, I see not how she can resist the pleadings of God's Spirit any longer."

  "When you or your minstrel go to her, tell her that I love her with all my heart. Tell her that I wait for her and that she must come to me quickly. For I tell thee truly, sir, all the joys of heaven shall be less for me and her Lord if she and my wee ones are not there."

  "We shall do our best to bring her," vowed Great-heart. "You have my word."

  So after Mr. Stand-fast had put things in order, the time came for him to cross the river. Now the river was calm at that time, which offered him occasion to speak a few words to those many who had gathered to bid him farewell. When he was about halfway in, he paused, and turning to his companions said:

  "This river has been a terror to many, yea, even to myself. But let me tell you something. As soon as my feet touched the waters, it seemed to me as if they parted and that I go over on dry ground! And looking beyond, I can see from here what you cannot. I see myself resting from all my labors. I see that head which was crowned with my thorns and that face that was spit upon with my spittle. Heretofore I have lived by the testimony of those who have gone before, but now - now I live by sight! Before this, He was at my side by faith, but now I can see Him with my eyes and touch Him with my hands! On this journey I have looked for the print of His feet that I might walk therein. His name has been to me sweeter than all perfumes and His voice, through the prophets, has comforted me in all my trials. I have turned towards His face as the flower to the sun. His Word has been my food, my drink, yea, my very breath. By that Word, He has changed me from a bull-headed drunkard who was a terror to wife, children and servants - to what I am this day - a new man renamed Stand-fast who be on his way home. From the moment I first gave myself to Him, He has held me fast to His heart. By my choice has kept me from mine iniquities; yea, He has strengthened my steps and guided my feet in His way. Now I go to Him."

  Now after he had thus borne his testimony, his last words were, "Lord, take me, for I come unto Thee!" Then the token of the postman was fulfilled: his countenance was changed, his strong man bowed under him, and he ceased to be seen of them.

  CHAPTER XXXI

  The Homecoming

  And now, as I promised earlier, I shall give you a richer account of Christiana's entrance into the Celestial City. I give these details not so much that you may rejoice in her honors and joys, but rather that you may covet and anticipate them for yourself. For indeed all these things are written for your learning and admonition upon whom the end of the world has come.

  I saw in my dream that when Christiana came out of the river, the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying, "Blessed is she who has accepted the invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb!" Then there spilled forth from the gates an army of trumpeters all clothed in white and shining raiment. These, with melodious noise and loud, made the walls of the city to echo with their music!

  Now did Christiana feel herself to be in heaven even before she came up to its gates. 'Ere long she had the City itself in view and could hear all the bells therein ringing out her welcome.

  But greater than sounds of trumpets and harps and bells; greater than the myriads of glorious beings who shouted her name in praise; greater than the joy of being whisked up to ride in the fiery chariot of honor; yea, greater by far than all of these things was this joyful thought. That soon she would meet in person He whom she had followed by faith in the world below. The thought of His smile to be bestowed upon her; of His words, "Well done, good and faithful servant," soon to fall upon her ears; of His placing the diadem of glory upon her head with His own right hand; of the thrill of casting it at His feet and ascribing to Him all glory and honor and wisdom and power and might - these thoughts, dear fellow pilgrim, these thoughts outshone all the thrills of that moment even as the sun outshines your candle! And the thought that shone brightest of all was that of dwelling in His presence forever and ever! Oh, by what tongue or pen can her glorious joy be expressed!

  As Christiana (and may I dare say also, "As you . . ." ) came up to the gate, she looked up and saw written there in letters of burnished gold:

  Blessed are they

  that do His commandments,

  That they may have right

  to the Tree of Life,

  And may enter in through the gates

  into the City.

  Then some from above looked over the gate (namely Enoch, Moses and Elijah). And oh, what joy was in their faces to behold another of their race coming to join them in the kingdom! So they shouted down, saying, "Greetings in the name of the King! What bring ye?"

  Then answered Christiana's accompanying Shining One, "I present for your examination one Christiana, the pilgrim. She has come from the city of Destruction and has endured all manner of hardship for the love that she bears to the King of this place."

  "Did she come in at the wicket gate?" asked Moses.

  "Yea!"

  "Does she have her certificate?"

  "Yea! Moreover, she has a letter of invitation signed by the King's own hand."

  "Indeed! Then give them in at the door!"

  So Christiana handed in her certificate and the golden letter which she had received in the beginning. Then I, in my dream, followed Moses as he strode swiftly into the vast throne room of the King of kings. Now I must tell you that the sight of the King of that place filled my soul with awe and loving respect. His throne was glorious beyond words - being surrounded on all sides by myriads of Shining Ones.

  On either side of the throne were two angels of surpassing size and loveliness who reached out to each other with their great wings to make a living arch over the throne. Over their heads there arched an emerald rainbow which shed about a soft green glow. From before the throne there burst forth, clear as crystal, a fiery stream of water which nourished all of the city and the country beyond. Around the throne were four and twenty elders; men which I supposed must have been raised from the dead at the resurrection of their Master. (There were also other glories besides so amazing and wondrous that I dare include in this account lest you think me mad. Therefore, I urge you to do as Christiana has done and go see for yourself. You will find that the half has never been told!).

  In my dream, I saw Moses come swiftly unto the King and deliver Christiana's papers with a bow. At the familiar sight of His own epistle, His face lighted up and beamed with joy. So when He had swiftly perused all her documents and applied His seal to them, His lovely face broke into a most wonderful smile and He said:

  "Where is she that has left all things for my sake?"

  "She stands just without the gate, Master," answered Moses.

  "And where is my friend, Christian?" asked the King with a merry twinkle in His eye.

  "He waits for her just inside the gate."

  "He has waited too long!" announced the King as He rose to His feet majestically. "I shall open the gates Myself!"

  It seemed as if all heaven had come out to welcome her.

  So I saw in my dream that the Lord Himself, followed by all His glittering and shining courtiers, strode swiftly to the mighty gates of pearl. There, with His own mighty right arm, he swung them back upon glittering hinges. Now as they opened, the golden glow of the cities light spilled over Christiana and warmed her to the depths of her being. Then the King went out, bowed to her, and extended His arm. At this, Christiana
stared in disbelief and hesitated. Was the Mighty Emperor of the universe actually going to escort her on His own arm?

  Now the Great King, seeing her dismay, gave her an engaging smile and offered His arm again. This time she took it and the bedazzled Christiana found herself being escorted in through the gate! And lo, I beheld that as she entered in, Christiana was transfigured! Her old mortal body was changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, from glory to greater glory. Yea, all the years of wrinkles and fatigue gathered on her long pilgrimage melted away - replaced by the vibrant glow of eternal youth! She was changed in an instant into the image of He whom she had beheld by faith, lo, all these many years. She then received raiment that shone whiter than snow. The King Himself placed a glorious diadem upon her head, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter in to the joy of thy Lord." Then Christiana wept for joy, and casting her crown at Jesus' feet, bowed before him in adoration, saying: