Between two worlds

Between the two worlds

Bunyan describes on p 2 that the town of Mansoul “lieth just between the two worlds”.
These two worlds are heaven and hell. Our progress through life determines whether heaven or hell is our destiny. Both can be reached from the city of Mansoul. It is not popular in our day to point out that there is a heaven and hell. However the Bible is clear on this matter. Psalm 139 v 8 shows us David praying “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there”. Christ explains to us in a kindly way that we can so easily be lost to heaven. In Matthew 5 v 22 the Lord Jesus says “whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his brother Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”. In Matt 7 v 13 Christ urges us to “enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”. It is our sin which condemns us to death and hell. However there is a way of escape from hell and that is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the son of God. The strait gate (represented by the wicket gate in Pilgrim’s Progress) is accessed by faith in Christ. Have you ever been angry with someone and called them a fool? Have you ever sinned? We all have! “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” says Paul in Romans 3 v 23. If we think that we are not sinners and are really quite “good” people then we are badly mistaken. 1 John 1 v 8 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. The first battering ram blow in the Holy war is to accept that we are sinners. 1 John 1 v 9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un-righteousness”.