My Dear Shepherds,

In John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, no sooner does Christian rejoice that “his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back … to the mouth of the sepulcher,” than he comes “to the foot of the Hill Difficulty.” There he goes from running to walking, “to clambering upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness of the place.” And that was just the beginning of his arduous journey to the Celestial City. Sound familiar?

Near the end of their first missionary journey Paul and Barnabas returned to some churches they’d planted,

… strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22 ESV)

To help Christian pilgrims in their progress toward the Celestial City God gives them shepherds, which is where we come in. It is sweet work indeed when we can lead someone up the hill to the Cross and watch with them as the burden of their sin rolls away. But most of our shepherding helps the pilgrim after that, with what Bunyan called in the subtitle of his book, “His Dangerous Journey.”

Perseverance is the constant theme of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. The people entrusted to us are constantly vulnerable to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Balaam and Jezebel still slip into church. Saints are vulnerable to either persecution or ease. So pastors are dispatched to guard them and to ground them, to keep watch over them by night, and to help them find their footing through valleys overshadowed by death.

It is our high privilege to show them again and again the welcome and wonders of God’s grace in Christ. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” “Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

We do all we can to anchor them in the family of God, so we make sure they hear the testimonies of forerunners, learn the “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,” pray and commune together, and open their Bibles with one another. Believers who blow off such things are on treacherous ground.

But we also must keep watch to see those who, beset by hardships, sin, or carelessness, begin to wander away. Pastors not only greet at the front door but also stand guard at the back door. We watch for the wolves. We fight for our people. We pray against the devil and for blind eyes to be opened. We “warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, [and are] patient with everyone.”

Ultimately, we teach our people that at the end of these hardships awaits the kingdom of God. Christians cannot persevere without that confidence. “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

The New Testament constantly emphasizes that Jesus is coming back to gather us to himself. We’re given a glimpse through heaven’s open door to see the throne of God and the Lamb, the apocalyptic pageant, the assembly of saints and angels, and a walk-through of our bright and beautiful homeland.

Do not give such things short shrift! This gray and godless world sucks the life out of our people. Our duty is to make them homesick and to warm their confidence that we will meet Jesus Christ in clouds of glory. “And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Be ye glad!

Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today.