Supporting Scripture for the “Lost Scene” from The Pilgrim’s Progress
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things [the day of the Lord], be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3.14-18 NASB)There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Prov. 14.12 NASB)
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered. (Prov. 28.26 NASB)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer. 17.9 KJV)
Every word of God is tested[pure]; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. (Prov. 30.5-6 NASB)
I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (2 John 4-11 NASB)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7.24-27 NASB)
A "Lost Scene" from The Pilgrim’s Progress
by Patrick Dudenhofer
Then did Interpreter bring Christian outside to view the valley that lay just beyond the house in which was located the town of Solid Rock a place where the Lord of the pilgrims bid men construct their homes on the firm foundation. Christian inquired of Interpreter what sort of men had settled in the town.INTER: Mr. Wiseman has indeed been the longest to live in this fair town having build his home on the solid rock of God’s Word and acting according to its dictates (for indeed Scripture is the Word of the Spirit). Nearby, Mr. Foolishman had erected his house upon the sandy soil having eschewed the fear of the Lord.
CHR: Alas, cried Christian, does not that poor fool know into what danger he has placed himself and his family?!
INTER: Interpreter demurred, that man did hear the Word of God but yet neglected all its counsel (Prov. 1.25) and was content to build only within sight of the stream of truth. I would provide thee another warning. Look yonder at the two houses just down stream of the homes of Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Foolishman.
CHR: Aye said Christian, the first house appears to be firmly fixed upon the true foundation and yet at closer glance something is amiss.
INTER: Indeed replied his host that man did not accept the foundation as he found it but did crush and stamp the rock beneath his house to conform the ground beneath to his own liking and to his own destruction. This fellow is called Scripture-Twister (2 Peter 3:16) and is brother to Misinterpreter, Speculator, Feet-Firmly-Planted-in-Midair, Eisegesis, Cannot-Know and Out-of-Context. What havoc have these miscreants caused to those pilgrims seeking the Celestial City by their false examples and teachings! But now turn your attention toward the other house good Christian.
CHR: Why cried Christian in astonishment a full half of that house lies suspended in midair above the stream while the remainder seems to sit upon the solid foundation!
INTER: The builder of that home did reject in practice the authority of the Word of God and made an authority of himself. He trusted his own heart (Prov. 28.26, Jer. 17.9) with its thoughts, imaginations and inclinations and did attribute to the Lord of this town that which he himself did devise (Prov. 30.5-6). With such a flawed foundation the house will be buffeted about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4.14) and cannot hope to stand the coming storm. The man’s name is Self-Revelation and he has close relatives of the same mind dwelling in the nearby towns of Popery, Tongues and Mysticism.
CHR: Has no one warned them of the coming consequences of spurning the solid foundation that the Lord did provide?
CHR: Is there any question as to their end? inquired Christian.
INTER: “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7.27) Their end is sure, being marked out long beforehand (Jude 4) though their error will spread like gangrene (2 Tim. 2.17) in these last days (2 Tim. 3:1). “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Tim. 2:19) Good Christian, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard…, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in [you].” (2 Tim. 1.13-14)
"The Bible and the Christ are inseparable.
To minimize the written Word is to dishonor the living Word."
- W.A. Criswell
To minimize the written Word is to dishonor the living Word."
- W.A. Criswell
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
- John Rippon
