Today’s Devotional – March 10th (Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 5: Vain-Confidence)
By admin On January 16th, 2021
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Today’s Devotional – March 10th
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Pilgrim’s Progress: “Vain-Confidence”
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“He that saith unto the wicked,
Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse,
nations shall abhor him…
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…But to them that rebuke him shall be delight,
and a good blessing shall come upon them.”
Proverbs 24:24, 25.
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In John Bunyan’s remarkable allegorical tale, Pilgrim’s Progress, there was a
character called “Vain-Confidence”. (Vain actually means “worthless”)
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And this most unfortunate fellow was true to his name!
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You see, this Vain-Confidence did not enter into the pilgrim’s journey through that absolutely required, “Wicket Gate”!
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And as a result, his experiences were nothing like the pilgrim’s experiences!
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Pilgrim’s Progress – Vain-Confidence – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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MANY VAIN-CONFIDENCES TODAY!
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And the fact is, this false-hoped religious figure is still around today!
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Yes, there are many such self-deceived ones today!
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Hands – Wikimedia – Share-alike license
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“…He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber…”
John 10:1, 2
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This above passage speaks of those self-deceived ones whom Bunyan was referring to, in his character, Vain-Confidence.
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And just like Vain-Confidence, there are many modern-day Vain-Confidences who got in some other way than the Narrow Gate.
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Perhaps by some popular evangelist or prophecy seminar with colorful time-charts, or by some exciting musical extravaganza or Babylonish holiday, such as Christmas!
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And while these exciting inducements drew them in, they nevertheless, did not enter in through the Narrow Gate, but instead, through The Broad Gate!
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VAIN-CONFIDENCE TEACHERS
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Those who have spent much time with Christian television and radio ministries can probably confirm a certain common technique often used by the various teachers and evangelists, when addressing their audience.
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This common practice is very insidious and very evil!
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Yes, this very deceptive practice, is that of addressing the parishioners in the pews as though they are all God’s sheep, thus giving them a vain (worthless) confidence.
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Have you witnessed this extremely deceptive and presumptuous practice?
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The Pastor, or teacher, or evangelist, will go on and on, giving practical tips and helpful hints into victorious Christian living, as though his parishioners are all born-again Believers!
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“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
1st Corinthians 2:14
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The Apostle, Paul realized that the Corinthians church suffered deep spiritual troubles, causing him to confess…
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,
but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.”
1st Corinthians 3:1
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He saw that they were, at best, “babes in Christ”.
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And probably because of their unspiritual condition, Paul also confessed…
“For I determined not to know any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
1st Corinthians 2:2
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Paul the Apostle – cropped & brightened photo – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain
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DECEIVING EVEN THE ELECT
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And in this day of great apostasy within the churches, there are probably very few,
if any, who are truly God’s sheep in any one particular local congregation.
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And so, the featured Bible passage for today’s devotional is very pertinent:
“He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous;
him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
But to them that rebuke him shall be delight,
and a good blessing shall come upon them.”
Proverbs 24:24, 25.
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This passage reminds us of these modern-day preachers being discussed today, who never ever should lead anyone to believe that they are saved, when they are not!
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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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HIS FATEFUL END
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But back to the story of Vain-Confidence.
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At the end of their pilgrimage, the two pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, crossed through that River of Death, finally entering into the wonderful and glorious Promised Land!
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And soon after, poor Vain-Confidence came along too, riding on a hired ferry-boat!
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But when standing before the entrance into the City, it was discovered that this Vain-Confidence had not the proper certification papers!
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And so, poor Vain-Confidence was cast out through a door, which took him from the Celestial City directly down, down, down, to Hell!
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The Pilgrim’s Progress by Byam Shaw – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain
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THE TRUE PILGRIM
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But like Hopeful and Christian, there are true pilgrims sprinkled here and there, in today’s church-world.
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Yes, and every true pilgrim who has the hope of meeting Christ at His Coming, is actively engaging in the purification process (see 1st John 3:3).
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He is seeking to separate his or her own self from as much ungodly associations as possible.
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He is seriously striving to walk, “even as Jesus walked”, and deeply grieved when overtaken by some sin.
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He sees himself as a stranger and pilgrim, sojourning through this dark and hopeless world.
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The Word of God is his delight and is his counselor.
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The Psalms are as cool water to his thirsty soul, speaking of the same trials and joys that he is experiencing!
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He loves to get alone with God in the sweet hours of prayer.
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He shuns all outward display and strives for the simplicity which Jesus displayed.
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He loves to talk with other Believers about Jesus, and about Christ’s many wonderful qualities.
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He rejoices to make sacrifices, so that he can more closely imitate His self-sacrificing Lord.
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He patiently endures the chastening of the Lord, crying out for deliverance, but also for wisdom, so as to learn from these oft unpleasant trials.
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And he loves to share his victories and even his many trials with other Believers, who are likewise experiencing the same things in the world.
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And he longs for the day when he will open his eyes on Resurrection Morning, only to see the smiling face of His Lord, and hear the words… “enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:23
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Yes, these are just some of the qualities which the true worshipper of God will have in his or her life.
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And Mr. Bunyan has given us this dramatic comparison between the true pilgrims, and that Vain-Confidence fellow.
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Pilgrim’s Progress – Henry Altemus, 1890, p. 47 – Wikimedia – public domain
Pilgrims Progress – His Burden Fell Off His Back – Wikimedia – Public Domain
Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain
Morning Prayers – Ebenezer Newman – Downard – 1860 – Wikipedia – Public Domain
David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License
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To read part 6, click here…
“February 12th (Pilgrim’s Family’s Progress!)”
Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Let me often test myself, and see if there is any selfish way in me. Turn me from all presumptuous and vain confidence…
Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “March 29th (Preaching to the Wrong Church”…
…or you can also read… “Moon into Blood Trilogy: 3rd Face: The Sadducee Seeker”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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NARROW GATE STARS LOCATION
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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter.
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Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story).
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Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon
(This sketch is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).
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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left).
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But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan.
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The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.
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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark).
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While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions.
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It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.
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The sketch shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars.
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The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle.
(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”.)
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The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here).
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The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).
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READ MORE…
Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)
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TOMORROW…
“March 11th (Just Two Wings of the Same Bird!)”
Black-headed Gull – St_James Park London GNU Free Doc. License
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 
ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS STUDY #69 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…
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Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #69
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Above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain