Pastor's Pen

September/October 2006

Bypass Meadow

For those who have read Pilgrim’s Progress, you will remember a place called, "Bypass Meadow." This lush meadow ran parallel to a very difficult part of the path en-route to the Celestial City. Of course, there was a stile (steps over the fence) conveniently located there, which enticed many a pilgrim to take an easier way. I am sure that many of the travelers; like Pilgrim and his friend, only intended to walk a little way in the meadow and then return to the path that they had left. However, the meadow gradually diverged and soon night was fallen. This little diversion had led the pilgrims into a very despairing place. What had been intended to be a little respite from the arduous journey had brought them into a dungeon of gloom and despair.

The study of Church history is very interesting in the sense that you discover certain trends. Some of the early trends were very severe. The ascetic life, the deprivation of self, the idea that in order to be truly holy you must live a life of seclusion, etc. It almost seemed as though true Christianity could only be attained by an exclusive few. Today the pendulum seems to have swung to the other extreme: the Easy Gospel, the Gospel that takes you over the stile into Bypass Meadow. Many a minister stands at the stile directing his vast audience into the green pastures of temporary blessing. The problem with this alternative route is that it does not lead you into the real purposes of God, nor will it yield a crown at the end of life’s journey. In fact, it leads to the dark night of the soul. As Solomon attests, "It is all empty… I have had my good things and it is all empty." I have nothing awaiting me on the other side. Solomon’s life ended in Doubting Castle (Eccl. 2:11).

We are not crowned for accepting Jesus as our Saviour. We are crowned for finishing the race – for running the race according to the rules (2 Tim. 2:5). No shortcuts! No circumventing Calvary’s hill! There is the Valley of Humiliation. There is the hill called Difficulty. There is the Valley of the Shadow of Death and there is the Vanity Fair that all true pilgrims must pass through.

We live in an hour when the false message seems to prosper (Dan. 8:25). We live in an hour when the minister says that we can get there by disregarding the pattern. We can take Bypass Meadow from Egypt into the Promised Land. We can win a crown without enduring temptation. We can win a crown by not fighting the good fight of faith and righteousness. We can take our reward here and on the other side. We can rid ourselves of the burden without taking the Via Delarosa (the way of the cross)! In an hour when multitudes of people are enticed by the message of the broad road, may God grant us the wisdom and grace to stay on the path that leads to life (Matt. 7:14). May God also grant that we who are ministers keep our charge to instruct the flock, watch over the flock, and be an example to the flock that we might receive our crown at journey’s end (1 Pet. 5:2-3).

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown (Rev 3:11).

Rev Daniel Caram