In the book Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, the protagonist, a pilgrim named Christian and his traveling companion, Hopeful, meet a man named Ignorance, who has come from the country of Conceit. All three characters are on their way to the Celestial City, although they all hold varying beliefs as to how their passage there should be obtained. For Christian and Hopeful, they have placed their faith and trust in the Lord for their salvation; whereas, Ignorance is depending upon his own good works to save him. “I know my Lord’s will, and have been a good liver; I pay every man his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for whither I am going,” explains the self-righteous, deluded Ignorance to the other two.
Christian tries to persuade Ignorance that since Ignorance did not come in at the wicket gate, but instead came in “through that same crooked lane,” that he should strongly consider to where he truly is headed, though Ignorance chooses to live up to his name, and refuses Christian and Hopeful, saying, “Gentlemen, ye be utter strangers to me: I know you not: be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine.”
The two decide to part company with Ignorance, as they realize that Ignorance will not then take their counsel. Proverbs 26:12 gives the perfect definition of Ignorance when it says, “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” Later in the book, Ignorance still blinded by the fallacies that he has believed regarding faith and salvation, dies a lost man and is taken to Hell. Christian and Hopeful, still trusting in Jesus alone for their salvation, arrive at the Celestial City, and are taken inside, where they will live forevermore with the One who gave His life for them so that they may live.
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