In the allegory: the Pilgrim’s Progress, the reformer, John Bunyan, most beautifully portrays the ups and downs of the Christian on his homeward journey. A specific portion of the proceedings that I would like to dwell upon today, is found in the chapter, Christian and his companions… this is very significant as we apply to the Christian today.

As he progresses forward… Christian comes across a man by the name Mr. By-ends… an illustrious worldly man whose words we shall consider for our admonition shortly. When asked of his kinship in the town “Fair-speech”, the conversation proceeds as follows:

BY-ENDS: Almost the whole town; and in particular,my Lord Turn-about, my Lord Time-server, my Lord Fairspeech (from whose ancestors that town first took its name), also Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Anything; and the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother’s own brother, by father’s side; and to tell you the truth, I am become a gentleman of good quality, yet my great-grandfather was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another, and I got most of my estate by the same occupation.

The Pilgrim’s Progress

Of the many that accompany the Christian on the heavenward journey, most of them would be classed with such relatives as portrayed here. The names used, would be fitly branded many now professing to be Christ’s followers without incurring guilt. One such case is that of Lot’s wife.

But his wife [Lot’s wife] looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Some, perhaps many, have wrestled with God over His dealings with Lot’s wife thinking themselves to be justified. But we ought to take a closer look and discern God’s Justice which will afford us a chance to learn of Infinite Wisdom.

Genesis 19:26

Lot’s wife… was a descendant of the By-ends family… What do I mean by this? The By-ends have one characteristic in common… All are double-minded. As described: “looking one way and rowing another”. Inspiration declares:

“While her body was upon the plain, her heart clung to Sodom”

Patriarchs & Prophets 161

Of the many lessons that we can draw from these views… I want to dwell upon one of them and maybe more in the future.

Just as He did for the dwellers of Sodom, God has given men much evidence of His love and courage in the pilgrimage here below. The way of life has been marked out clearly for the salvation of all. But the hereditary tendencies of the By-ends hinder a vast majority from taking up the cross daily and following Christ.
Lot’s wife ‘rebelled against God because His judgments involved her possessions and her children in the ruin.’ If she would be consulted before God would work out His judgments she would propose the way of life, whereby her life was graciously preserved, to be a grievous cross…

So it is with many. We love life, and we love death all at once. We truly desire to walk in the statutes of Jehovah, but the policies of the enemy are also plausible with us. No moral backbone is employed to see to it that our life does not end likes that of Lot’s life.

Friends, let us not face both ways! “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 3:14]

As the mighty apostle, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;” “let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” “watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. “ [2Timothy 4:1; 1Corinthians 10: 12]