day no. 13,378: two ways to serve only your self

"Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven."

 ~ John Bunyan from The Pilgrim's Progress

I just finished reading "The Pilgrim's Progress" again recently.

This is how the book ends reflecting upon the fate of Ignorance.

Bunyan points out two paths that lead to Hell:

1. making your home in the City of Destruction

2. making your pilgrimage to paradise on the merits of anyone other than the perfection purchased by Jesus' life, death and resurrection

Ignorance made it all the way to the gate.

From an earthly perspective, it seemed like he had his heart set on Heaven.

But Ignorance wanted paradise without the Prince, forever joy without temporal submission.

Both residing in the City of Destruction and striving for Heaven without Christ end the same sad way in Hell.

Rebellion or Religion: two ways that pave the way to Hell.