"I felt him grasp hold of my
flesh with such a deadly seizure that I felt he had torn away part of my body
to himself"
These where the
words of Faithful as he explained his encounter with Adam.
\\ I will now describe what was Faithful's experience, for I still today feel the grasp on my flesh of the same hardship that encountered Faithful.
Faithful met
Christian in a deadly place, it was in fact a miracle that he was still alive
after Mount Difficulty, and the wretched valley without neither the rest
offered by the Shady Restingplace nor that of House Beautiful that Christian
had the privilege to experience.
This trustworthy
pilgrim had been on the path from the City of Destruction towards the Celestial
City alone for so many days. He had been inspired by Christian's example and
set forth towards the difficulties that await intrepid pilgrims. Just about the
lowest end of Mount Difficulty he met an old man that offered him his three
daughters and many delights to ease his way and bring comfort to a persistent
and unique pilgrim as himself.
\\ "Isn't
that what I want? Isn't that the source of so much longing in me? But of course
I will accept.. give me but a chance to inquire the good man as to the wages of
this great opportunity"
With a so much pleasant
offer, Faithful showed what some would say excessive caution as he inquired the
old man of his name and those of his daughters. "Adam, the First"
replied the old man, "and my daughters are Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the
Eyes, and Pride of Life". Faithful could say nothing for a moment… …. the fulfillment of
his lust and the craving of his ambitions was there, at the reach of his
hands... was he a madman? Could he say no to such an offer?
\\ Oh poor Faithful, is it best to
know their names? Is this in some way an ease to your heart? Or is it just one
more parasite you will carry on in your heart? To wish the things you have not
tasted..
Faithful rejected
the offer with a cold stomach, turned his back on the old man and set forth to
face the Aconcagua of Difficulty. This however did not please Adam, and this is
when Faithful describes that "I felt him grasp hold of my flesh with such
a deadly seizure that I felt he had torn away part of my body to himself";
and more.. he said he would send a person ahead of him that would put him into
misery and bring my end.
Poor Faithful...
This pilgrim faced
Aconcagua with his torn body and not looking behind until the one man that was promised
had in fact reached him as prophesized by Adam. Swift as the wind a strange
figure run up the mountain as if he were being pushed by a river. In but a split-second
the unpleasant expression of the figure was made apparent by Faithful and
without a word began what could be described as the worst of Faithful's
experience.
The man raged in
fury towards his wounds and with mastery knocked the poor pilgrim to his brow
with no return. Faithful without warning or mercy was completely reduced by the
man’s blows towards his weak body..
This is when he received
relief and assistance from a man with wounds on his side and on his hands. As a
humble servant this second man dismissed the furious figure and raised Faithful
to his feet so that he could walk again, and as mysterious and silent as these
two figures reached Faithful the same way they left him at Mount Difficulty.
Faithful would
latter recognize that the first figure was מֹשֶׁה [Moses] and the second was יֵשׁוּעַ [Yeshua]. Faithful
denied the desires of his flesh, his eyes and the ambitions of his life with
his lips and his deeds before Adam the First… … but in his
heart...
... in his heart they were his mistress and lovers.
\\ Oh God! How can
we escape from the hands of condemnation?! I too am a lover of the
daughters of Adam! G-d forgive me and free me from the unmerciful hand of מֹשֶׁה !
\\ I too feel the
grasp of Adam in my flesh and but await for my encounter with מֹשֶׁה.. can I be spared
from his wrath? Can the humble servant spare me as well? Oh G-d please be merciful!
These where the
turmoil’s that Faithful faced at Mount Dificulty.
\\ I hope this reflection may help
your pilgrimage as it has mine in my encounter with Adam the First and Moses.
\\ May the second Adam spare us and
raise us to our feet at the Aconcagua that awaits us.
\\ The above text was inspired by my meditation on an excerpt of John Bunyan's Novel "The Pilgrim's Progress". A copy of the excerpt of Bunyan's text, slightly modified, follows below.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FAITHFUL: When I came to the foot of the Hill Difficulty, I met a very old man; his name was Adam
the First (Rom. 5:12, 17; I Cor. 15:45-47), and he resided in the Town of Deceit (Eph. 4:22). He offered many delights, and also wages to work in his household ... he explained that his servants were his own daughters, named The Lust of the Flesh, The Lust of the Eyes, and The Pride of Life ( I John 2:16)
CHRISTIAN: Well, and what agreement eventually came between the old man and yourself?
FAITHFUL: Why at first I felt somewhat inclined to go with the man because his manner was quite appealing. However, on looking at his forehead as I talked with him I saw inscribed there, “Put off the old man with his deeds.” (Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9)
CHRISTIAN: How did you respond then?
FAITHFUL: Why it came burning hot into my mind that whatever he said, and however he flattered, yet when he lured me into his house, then he would sell me as a slave. So I insisted that he cease his talk since I had not the slightest intention of even going near the door of his house. Then he reviled me, and told me he would set a certain person onto me who would cause the way ahead to become bitter to my soul. So I turned to depart from him: but just as I was leaving to proceed on my journey, I felt him grasp hold of my flesh with such a deadly seizure that I felt he had torn away part of my body to himself. This made me cry out in pain, “Oh wretched man [that I am]!” (Rom. 7:24; Gal. 5:17) So I went on my way up the Hill. Now when I had proceeded about halfway up, I looked behind me and saw someone coming after me, as swift as the wind; so he overtook me just about where the Shady Restingplace is located. (Rom. 7:7-12)
CHRISTIAN: Yes, it was there that I sat down to rest myself; but being quite overcome with sleep, I lost my scroll there because it fell out of my chest pocket.
FAITHFUL: But my good brother, do hear me out. Just as soon as the man overtook me, without a word he struck me down and left me for dead. However, upon reviving a little from unconsciousness, I asked him why he had treated me so brutally. He indicated that is was on account of my secret inclination to heed old Adam the First; and with that he struck me another deadly blow on my chest and beat me down to the
ground; so once again I lay at his feet as if dead. So when I regained consciousness, I pleaded with him for mercy; but he replied that he did not know how to show mercy, and then he knocked me down once more. Undoubtedly he would have completely finished me off had it not been for another person who came and demanded that he immediately cease with his assault. ( II Cor. 3:1-18)
CHRISTIAN: Who was it that ordered him to stop?
FAITHFUL: At first I did not recognize him; but then as he passed by I noticed the holes in his hands as well as his side. Then I concluded that he was our Lord. So I continued on up the Hill. (John 20:24-29)
CHRISTIAN: That man who overtook you was Moses; he does not spare anyone, nor does he know how to show mercy to those who disobey his law.
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