Courage and Grace

Back in the story that is taking place in the eternal heart of Christian, we can all hear the chilling, and yet very refreshing, rapids of a roaring river. As Christian and Faith draw closer, we see them gasping. Their mouths are wide open with great delight and they are hugging each other tightly as they see what awaits them just beyond the river. For you see, my very precious and dear friend, if you will look with the eyes of your heart, you’ll see what they see, heaven!

Indeed, heaven itself, rising above the four-squared walls, with a centralized pearly gate, through which all the new residents must come. However, before heaven, they must pass through “The River.” The River visits all Christians just before heaven and it is now visiting this Christian and his Faith.

For the first time in their eternal lives, Christian and his Faith can see heaven. No words, no mere human language, no matter how descriptive and full of meaning they may be, can adequately paint a word-picture of what Christian and his Faith see with their eternal eyes. A light, the brilliance of which can’t be seen by external eyes, illuminates every inch of heavenly ground and gives it the appearance of gold. As Christian holds the warm, soft, pure hand of his Faith in his own, he can feel her pulse beating rapidly, and Faith can feel his pulse beating uncontrollably in hers.

They look deeply into each other’s eyes and see a transparency that goes clear through to their souls. They are so consumed with what God has given them to enjoy forever, that they hug each other and show a love for one another that can only be surpassed by the love that Holy God has for them.

Christian says to his Faith, “None of this would ever have been possible if God hadn’t sent you to me.” Faith responds by saying, “God sent me to you before the foundation of the world. There could be no one but you for me. As God loves you, I will also love you forever. We will always be one in perfect love!”

Courage and Grace hear this, and as both couples dismount from their mighty chargers, Victory and Salvation, Grace shares these words, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Christian responds by saying, “I can see not only my Faith so clearly now, but also heaven! Both heaven and my Faith are, now, more real than ever!!! Courage and Grace are more real to me than I ever could have imagined!” To this, these saints look at each other, smile, and then Grace says, “We have always been real, Christian, more real than anything made of mere flesh and blood. We are always here to help all Christians and their Faiths, if they will simply ask God to send us to help them.”

With this said, Prince Courage bows and Princess Grace curtsies before Christian and Faith. Christian and Faith have them rise and then come to them and, with tear-filled eyes, give them very emotional hugs.

Courage says to Christian, “It is time for you to cross the river.” Christian looks around and, for the first time since Courage had brought him out of that dark prison cell, he can’t find his Faith. He cries out, “Where’s my Faith? I can’t cross the River without her! I have no Endurance! I have no Strength! I have no Stamina! Please help me, for only God’s Strength, Stamina, and Endurance can help me cross this great River of Death!”

With this said, Prince Courage shares with Christian what his family would share with saints during this time at the River. Courage says, “It was always Strength who would lead Christian down to the riverbank where he would place Christian’s hand into the soft tender hand of Gentleness. Gentleness would then smile at him and then point to him to look across the river. While Courage speaks, Christian looks across the river. On the other side of the river, Christian’s dearly beloved Faith had already crossed. She is waving to him, blowing him kisses, and beckoning him to come and join her.

Though physically not there, Christian can feel the presence of the family of Courage. He can hear Gentleness whisper to him, “There is nothing at all to fear.” He can hear Kindness say, “There is nothing for you to doubt either.” It is as if he can hear the voice of Joy speaking clearly, saying, “There is nothing at all for you to be depressed, discouraged, or disappointed about either.”

Christian can sense a presence around him as if Endurance and Stamina are serving as a sort of Honor Guard, with one on the right and the other on the left, as Courage and Strength lead Christian down to the water’s edge.

Christian then thanks Courage and Grace for not only all they have done for him, but also for the encouragement that Courage shared with him from his dear family, for it has truly felt as if they, themselves, have also been present. Christian then waves goodbye and continues to hear their words of encouragement as he steps into the water.

Immediately he finds himself underwater with the raging waters of the river of physical death over his head. As he vigorously comes to the surface, struggling and gasping for air, he can hear Courage and Grace calling to him. Without panicking, it is as if he can feel God’s Courage, Strength, Stamina, and Endurance getting him through this final River crossing. Very soon the roaring River of death becomes quiet, even calm, and there is no more struggling. He has now crossed the River! The next thing he feels is his dearly beloved Faith hugging him. Her sweet honey-anointed lips are once again attached to his. Tears of happiness are now, uncontrollably, flooding from their eyes.