Pilgrim’s Progress

This last weekend, COMPASS school performed The Pilgrim’s Progress Musical Friday and Saturday evening. It was nothing short of phenomenal. The songs, choreography, set design, and most of all the acting by the students, glorified the Lord and communicated (in a truncated way) John Bunyan’s vision. If you have never read The Pilgrim’s Progress before, I encourage you to do so. It is the best-selling Christian book after the Bible and for a long time was the second-best selling book of all time. Many of its portrayals and scenes have helped Christians in their lives for centuries since it’s writing. I myself tend to remember the vivid scenes at the Interpreter’s House, including of the man who has to fight to get into heaven, drawing from Matthew 11:12, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”

This is a much abbreviated Touchpoints article as I am currently at our Conference together with our as-yet unnamed group of faithful churches, but I wanted to share with you the lyrics to the song I wrote for the Pilgrim’s Progress Musical. I was tasked to write the final song, celebrating the main character (Christian) as he struggles but overcomes the river Death and then is welcomed into the land of the Celestial City. I hope the words are an encouragement to you.
Pilgrim of the way, walk in the narrow path

In hand you have the promise sure, by which your steps are kept

But now it ends in river-culm, this final step the test

To trust the one who’s gone before, whether in life or death

Witness of the truth, the trials of life are o’er

The mountains steep and troubles deep, now swallowed by life’s pow’r

For the Lamb is raised on high, through water and through fire

His victory, of flesh and blood, now does thee attire

Christian, all this life, is but a dream compared

To gate and walls, secure and strong, the ground of Zion fair

And beautiful it’s temple-mount, her streets of purest gold

Artifice of gems and pearls and truth of tales long told

Chorus:

The elders all sing hallelujah

The angels all shout hallelujah

All creation joins in hallelujah

Join the festal song, you’ve finally come home

Citizen of heav’n, assembled with the just

The prayerful tears, shed oe’r long years, have blown away like dust

And now you join the festal shout with joy and angel-might

And fix your eyes upon the Lamb whose sun shall be thy sight