John Bunyan (1628-1688) was a simple “Tinker”, in that he
fixed common household wares such as pots and pans. He had a limited education
and became one of the most famous writers of all time. His famous allegory “The
Pilgrim's Progress” became the most read book in the English language other than
the Bible. It is impossible to know how
many copies of his book were made, because once it was published without
copyright laws (they didn't exist in the 1600’s) people made copies of their
own and sold them for profit. Everyone
had a copy of Pilgrim's Progress, it was read by all walks of life, taught in
universities and if you haven't read it, you should.
Though he started out as a tinker he was also a preacher and
because he didn't belong to the Church of England he wasn't allowed to
preach. But that didn't stop John from
fulfilling his calling. At the age 32 he
was jailed for preaching and spent the next 12 years there. While in jail we was allowed two books, a
Bible and the “Fox’s Book of Martyrs”.
With time to think he began to write his famous allegory. In the book the main character “Christian” is
walking up a road with walls on each side and the walls were called salvation,
the way was hard and difficult because of the great burden he was carrying on
his back. As he followed the road he claimed a hill and on top of that hill
stood a cross.
As he approached the cross he could see just below it an
open grave and as he neared the cross the burden on his back loosened and fell
from his shoulders and tumbling into the grave where is was seen no more. He stood there for a while to look in wonder
because it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should ease
him of his burden, that he had carried for so long. He looked until he was overcome and “tears
were sent down his cheeks.”
We all carry burdens, we carry the past, and all we carry
sins—what we did to others, what others did to us and it goes on and one. And the longer we carry those burdens the
heavier they get. These burdens wear us
down, tire us out, result in all kinds of disorders, diseases and if not
eventually relieved will take our lives.
What hope do we have?
Jesus said, “Come to
me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(Mat. 11:28-30 ESV)
Jesus wants to relieve you of your burden, he wants to free
you and give you rest! He wants to walk
along side you in this life and help you.
As a Christian we don’t have to worry about those things that once
weighed us down. As we draw near to the
cross they will fell off and into the grave where our savior once laid and we
will never see them again. He has freed
us to turn from sin in repentance, he has given us a new heart to serve him
with ease. Live thankfully, live humbly, hopeful and joyful, for in Christ we
are free.
