February 22nd -- Enchanted Ground

"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep ope their drowsy, slumbering eyes.
Saint's fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake; and that in spite of hell."

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Good morning All!

Tonight's FNF will be held at Tanci's place:

Our bible study will be led by Geneva! 

We'll start with food at 6:30pm and the study at 7:30pm.
Geneva asks that you all come early so that we can start her prepared activity on-time!

Please bring your bibles, a friend and fruit to help out. Thanks!

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The above caption is from John Bunyan's classic The Pilgrim's Progress and refers to the section of the book where the allegorical Hopeful and Christian have nearly reached the Celestial City yet first have to cross the Enchanted Ground (read here). They fled the Cities of Destruction and Vanity Fair, endured the Valley of Humiliation and conquered Giant Despair and are now sooooo close to the Land of Beulah and the River of Death, just on the other side of which lies the Celestial City. 

Christian reminds the dull and drowsy Hopeful that they were warned by the shepherd not to fall asleep on Enchanted Ground, the last leg of their journey, but instead to remain sober and alert (1 Thess 5:6) and Hopeful, thankful for the reminder, recalls the scripture that says that "two are better than one" (Ecc 4:9).

To stay wake as they traversed the Enchanted Ground, they encouraged one another and told their testimonies-- how they came into the faith and they quoted scripture and promises and spoke of Jesus' love and mercy, God's fairness and the return of Christ.

I think this "chapter" is brilliant and timely-- we, as Christians, are currently slogging our way through Enchanted Ground and many, many people are sleeping on all kinds of events and opportunities to strengthen our faith and to reach out to others about Jesus' soon return. So many will be lost on this final leg of our journey -- not because of religious persecution, not because of despair, not because of ignorance or difficulties but because we are being lulled to sleep (right on the King's Highway) by complacency and an unwillingness to let go of cherished sins that you know God is convicting you about and that the Holy Spirit wants to help you overcome. How's that for a run-on sentence? How sad is that? How subtle is the devil? How vigilant must we be-- especially now?

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thessalonians 5:6