Of all the deaths I have been present at, one of the most troubling and yet most triumphant was of a godly woman, who had served much of her life as a missionary in Pakistan. As she lay dying, she felt so very keenly the assault of the evil one. Given her life, I had little reason to doubt what she testified to in her death. It was a time of spiritual struggle, prayer, worship, reading of Scripture and exhortation. At the end she died in peace, confident of Christ, and His work. Her passing was marked by a great victory of faith, in confidence that the Saviour she had given her life to preach was able to deliver her from death.

As they face the River that symbolises death, both Christian and Hopeful are ‘much stunned’. Both hesitate, and wonder if there might not be any other way to the City beyond? It turns out that there are at least two other ways: the path trodden only by Enoch and Elijah; and a ferry service, offered by one Vain-hope. There is a confidence that comes not from what we know, but from what we don’t. And there are those who enter death with a misplaced security, and who are too far in before they realise they should have, like the Pilgrim’s, been ‘much stunned’ at its prospect. Christians alone, well versed in Scripture, understand the reality of death. Whilst this tends to terror, they also know the reality of Christ’s victory over death in the resurrection. This tends to confidence in the face of terror.

But this cosmic tension in Christian experience is what accounts for the Shining Ones’ counsel: ‘You will find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place’. As we enter death, which will dominate: the reality of death, or the reality of Christ’s victory over it? Hopeful, true to his name to the last, feels the River’s bed and cries out in triumph. Christian has greater conflict. All through his Pilgrimage, Christian has struggled with Pride. And even here, in the midst of death, his thoughts turn from Christ and centre on himself. He remembers his sins and ponders his failings, rather than remembering Christ, and pondering the deliverances Christ has wrought. His view of the city is cluttered with fell and evil spirits as he is tempted even yet to lose sight of the King. Old doubts resurface, new fears engulf him, and foes old and new stand in his way. He is not in anguish at losing the world, but at his lack of holiness and faith. Death is a another trial to Christian. One he will vanquish, but a trial nevertheless. The River is deep when our faith in the King of the place is shallow. And it is shallow where our faith runs deep.

Hopeful has faith enough for both. His thoughts rest on the King, and his eye is on the Gate to the City. Death is nothing more than a necessity, a scorpion whose sting is drawn, a defeated foe, powerless to prevent his crossing. Bunyan stresses to the last the critical importance of fellowship. When our faith weakens we allow others to carry us. Or at least we should do! Sometimes we have no choice. As Christian struggles to keep his head above water… and barely manages even with Hopeful’s help! ‘Hopeful also would endeavour to comfort him, saying, Brother, I see the Gate and the men standing by to receive us’. Hopeful reminds Christian of the promises of Scripture, of the triumphs they have known along the way, the evidences of God’s having been with them. He is desperate to have Christian fix his eyes on Christ, who is both Pioneer and the Perfector of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End of faith as of everything.

…and who now proves faithful to His Pilgrims. ‘Christian [after being absorbed in his thoughts for a time] brake out with a loud voice, O I see Him again! And He tells me ‘When you pass through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not flow over thee’ (Is.43:2)’.

‘Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as stone, until they were gone over. Christian therefore presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the River was but shallow. Thus they got over’.

Questions to ponder:

What Scriptures have you memorised that will give you hope and comfort when you step into the River? Who have you asked to be with you, to pray for you and to fellowship with you as you die?

When you are called to the bed side of a dying Christian, how do you plan to encourage them as they face the last great enemy of their Pilgrimage?