The pilgrims continued their journey until they reached the Delectable Mountains. They climbed the mountains to see the gardens, orchards, vineyards, and fountains. From the fountains they drank the water and washed themselves, and they freely ate from the vineyards. They saw shepherds feeding their flocks so they asked them, “Whose Delectable Mountains are these? And whose sheep are these that are pasturing on the mountain?”
Shepherd: These mountains are Immanuel’s Land, and they are within sight of His City. The sheep are also His, and He laid down His life for them.
Christian: Is this the way to the Celestial City?
Shepherd: You are going in the right direction.
Christian: How far is it to get there?
Shepherd: Too far for anyone, except those who shall arrive there.
Christian: Is the way safe or dangerous?
Shepherd: Safe for those for whom the way is made to be safe, but the transgressors will fall off along the way.
Christian: Is there in this place any relief for pilgrims who are weary and faint in the way?
Shepherd: The Lord of these mountains has given us a charge not to be ‘forgetful to entertain strangers’; therefore the benefits of the place are here for you.
[Well, ok. We don’t get what we want to hear. The answers sound more evasive than comforting. The answers are that odd combination of encouragement and warning. It’s like reading Hebrews… Salvation is ours but we must pay careful attention and persevere, do not drift away.]
The shepherds, knowing that Christian and Hopeful were on a pilgrimage, started asking them questions such as where they had come from and by what means they had entered the way and found strength to persevere. “For few”, they said, “who begin the journey make it this far.”
[Well, crap. You read that line and this is where Satan starts talking lying… ‘Are you sure you’re saved? Doesn’t sound like ‘Once saved, always saved.’ But this is where the Word of God and the promises of God are crucial for your peace, while you stand firm and shut Satan up, “Not everyone who begins this journey, began at The Cross. I did. So, go away, I know I am saved. I know my redeemer lives. I know I am not perfect; I am not holy… yet. My salvation is secure, but the massive work of my sanctification continues.” ]
The shepherds, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, took them by the hand and led them to their tents where a meal had been prepared for them. They rested there and, in the morning, went with the shepherds to walk the mountains. The shepherds said to one another, “Shall we show these pilgrims some wonders?” And after agreeing to do it, they took them first to the top of the hill called Error and asked them to look down to the bottom where there were several men dashed to pieces by a fall.
Christian: What does this mean? [Maybe the most important question we need to learn to ask on our own pilgrimages!]
Shepherds: Haven’t you heard of those who fell into error by listening to Hymenaeus and Philetus who denied the faith by refusing to believe in the resurrection of the body? Those whom you see dashed in pieces at the bottom of this mountain are they, and they have continued to this day unburied as an example to others to take heed not to clamber too high or come too near the brink of this mountain. [From Paul’s teaching to Timothy about how to deal with false teachers.]
The shepherds took them to the top of another mountain named Caution and asked them to look far off. When they did, Christian and Hopeful saw what they though were several men walking up and down among the tombs there. They perceived the men were blind, as they were stumbling among the tombs and couldn’t seem to get out from among them.
Christian: What does this mean?
Shepherds: Do you see a little below these mountains a stile that leads into a meadow? That path leads directly to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair. [uh, oh.] And these men were once on a pilgrimage just as you are. But when they came to that same stile where the true way was rough, they were taken by Giant Despair and cast into Doubting Castle. After keeping them in the dungeon for a while the giant put out their eyes and led them among those tombs where he left them to wander to this very day. ‘He that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.’
(Christian and Hopeful looked at one another with tears streaming down their faces, but they said nothing to the Shepherds.)
The shepherds then took them to another place where there was door in the side of the hill and asked them to look in. They saw that it was very dark and smoky. They heard a rumbling noise like that of a fire and the cries of someone being tormented and they smelled the scent of brimstone.
Christian: What does this mean?
Shepherds: This is a byway to Hell, a way that hypocrites enter by doing such things as selling their birthright, like Esau, or selling their master, like Judas, or blaspheming the gospel, like Alexander, or lying and dissembling, like Ananias and Sapphira, his wife.
Hopeful: I perceive that all of these people you have mentioned had the appearance of being pilgrims, just as we do, did they not?
Shepherds: Yes, and for a long time too.
Hopeful: How long did they appear to go on their pilgrimage before they were miserably cast away?
Shepherd: Some came as far as these mountains, some even farther, and some were lost long before they ever got here.
[Jeez, the Shepherds called that A byway to Hell… seems like only one of many that they are hinting at since the references to Esau, Judas, Alexander, Ananias and Sapphira all refer to hypocrisy and denial at various parts of the Christian pilgrimage.]
The pilgrims said to each other, “We need to cry to the Strong One for Strength.” A shepherd agreed, saying “Yes, and you will have need to use that strength when you get it.” They all decided it was time for the pilgrims to continue their journey. The shepherds offered to show the pilgrims the gates of the Celestial City, if they had the skill to look through their telescope, but when the got to the top of the hill, called Clear, and gave them their telescope, the recollections of all the shepherds had just shown them made them tremble a little, causing their hands to shake and making it difficult to see clearly through the glass.
Before they departed, the shepherd, Knowledge, gave them a map of the way. Experience, told them to beware of the Flatterer. Watchful, warned them not to sleep on the Enchanted Ground. And Sincere, bid them Godspeed.
Scripture: John 10:11 Hosea 14:9 Hebrews 13:2 2 Timothy 2:17-18 Proverbs 21:16, Acts 5
Thoughts to Consider: What does this mean? It is important to remember that a pilgrimage is not a method of transportation from point A to point B that resembles, ‘Beam me up, Scotty!’ for my generation. Nor does it resemble, for my children’s generation… apparition, the use of port keys or Floo Powder… Shunkan Ido… or the hundreds of other teleportation ideas expressed in fictional works. According to the Huffington Post, science is inching closer to Quantum Teleportation… as of August 2013… as long as there isn’t too much mass. 🤔
Google ‘Pilgrimage’ and you’ll find a few interesting ideas.
Merriam-Webster includes: the course of life on earth.
Cumbria.gov.uk, whatever that is, adds: Pilgrimage is a search for meaning, purpose, values or truth (and in this sense, like life.)
Wikipedia: A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life.
Yourdictionary.com: A journey to a sacred place or shrine.
So, what does this mean, ‘pilgrimage’ – especially as it relates to this chapter? Most online examples of religious-related pilgrimages reference Muslims, not Christians. 😔I would like to think that is because of the physical pilgrimage that is required of Muslims. But I don’t really think that is the case. Our western culture is removing the ‘Spiritual growth and maturity’ that is part of the Christian faith. This makes us weak and ineffective Christians in leading others to Jesus. In my opinion:
- Christians, in Western Culture, are impatient. We want immediate growth and arrival, we don’t want to invest all, by relinquishing control to our Creator God. We just want Him to miraculously make us holy… but not just yet. We’d like to enjoy this sinful life just a bit longer, but say, a month before we die would be just great. Or a week… or on our deathbed, even. In our hearts, we know what He is calling us to do. We know it will be hard. We know He asks us to hand Him EVERYTHING in our lives… some of which He will remove and some of which He will return, even more beautiful than we could imagine. We even pray that He does this… THY WILL BE DONE. But we are so fearful to trust Him when we are so familiar with trusting ourselves. (Which makes NO sense, because if we were satisfied with our lives as a result of trusting ourselves, we wouldn’t be on this pilgrimage!!!)
- Christians, in Western Culture, are susceptible to false teachers. Because we still want to inch closer to Him, while maintaining some control and/or trust in our understanding, we will seek out teachers that agree with us. For goodness sakes… in this day, you could write a book… create a study… or webinar material… call it Christian and there’s a captive audience. You’ll make $$$ but lose your soul. You won’t get to the Kingdom and you’ll prevent others from reaching it as well. (Jesus warns pretty strongly against this choice: Matthew 18:6 Matthew 16:26.) Here’s the kicker: Just because you are not a false teacher, doesn’t mean the people you like listening to, aren’t. Be careful who you listen to! Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. If someone wants to make me feel good about who I am, naturally? I run. (1 Corinthians 2:14-15) If someone wants to point me to scripture that teaches me how God promises to transform me and renew my mind, so I be the child He created me to be? I stay. (Romans 12:2 2 Corinthians 3:18 Colossians 3:5 Colossians 3:9-10)
- Christians pilgrimages are unique. From the top of Caution mountain, the pilgrims saw the result of others caught by Giant Despair. A result they escaped. Their response is appropriate… tears streaming down their faces. “There by the Grace of God, go I.” It is by His providence that they escaped. Christians should never assume to know anything by looking at another Christian… John 21:22 (Remember when Peter asks Jesus about John? Lord, what about him? Jesus basically tells him, ‘none of your business… your job is to follow me.’) Fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom. He created everything; it is His will that determines the New Creation as well. If we desire to be with Him in that new creation, for eternity, we should probably start that pilgrimage now. There was a news story about a young man caught by the police this summer during one of the many riots. He didn’t understand why he was caught because there were so many others who was stealing, vandalizing, and trespassing, and the police didn’t stop them. (Mob rule is a scary future… very, Lord of the Flies… no, thanks.)
- Christians, in Western Culture, are very casual with their commitment. At the Byway to Hell, we see reference to the Old Testament, Esau, who never got to a point of faith. New Testament, Judas, who walked with Jesus, heard him teach, but couldn’t let go of what he valued in this world. He never trusted Jesus and never got to see the cross or the resurrection. Alexander, taught against the Gospel, telling others in Ephesus that Christian morality was not required. (There really is nothing new under the sun!) And Ananias and Sapphira, dropping dead in Acts 5, when they lied about how much they sold their property for, when their donation was made to the new, fledgling Christian church. (How many Christians today read their bibles and get to this verse, and like Christian and Hopeful, see the warning and just have tears streaming down their faces, knowing that they are there only by His Grace?) Sometimes I wish the IRS would remove the ‘charitable donation’ tax deduction. I think we’d have a more honest picture of Christianity in our country. I’m fairly sure that when the early Christians sold their property and gave the proceeds to the Apostles, the Romans didn’t give them a tax break! If you didn’t get a write-off, would you still give to your church or the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned… (See the parable of The Sheep and The Goats in Matthew 25:31-46)
FINAL NOTE: The author includes a note that ‘The Delectable Mountains’ are a type of church, which can only be appreciated after the experiential development of spiritual maturity. The shepherds are pastors, and the pastoral gifts are represented by their names: Watchful, Experience, Sincere, and Knowledge.
The gardens, vineyards, fountains, and bountifully textured terrain are metaphors for the richness of spirit that comes with experience in the Christian walk. They also describe the contemplation of heavenly delights that are shadows of the splendor just ahead. The Delectable Mountains represent: (1) the comfort of the local church (2) the place where true pilgrims are constantly cautioned about the perils that lie ahead and (3) the place where weary pilgrims are given hope. It is here where Christians can reflect on past perils and on the goodness of God whose saving hand has plucked them from the pitfalls that have assailed them in the past. What better place to contemplate both the goodness and the severity of the Gospel.
Much to think about in this one…