The Oil of Grace

Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand and lead him into a place where a fire was burning next to a wall. Standing by the wall was an individual who was continually throwing water on the fire to put it out. Yet, the fire just burned higher and hotter.

Christian asked, "What does this mean?"

The interpreter answered, "This fire is the work of grace working in the heart. He who throws water on it to extinguish it and put it out is the Devil. But, as you see, the fire is burning higher and hotter in spite of it. You'll be shown the reason for that."

With that, he took Christian around to the other side of the wall. There he saw a man with a jar of oil in his hand continually and secretly pouring oil upon the fire.

Again, Christian asked, "What does this mean?"

The Interpreter explained, "This is Christ, who continually maintains the work already begun in the heart by applying the Oil of His Grace. Because of this, the souls of His people remain full of grace in spite of what the Devil can do. In that you saw the man standing behind the wall to keep the fire burning, that's meant to teach you that it's hard for those tempted to see how this work of grace is continued in the soul."

I relate so very well with Bunyan's illustrations in The Pilgrim's Progress. The daily struggle with sin is the hardest part of each day. I know that if it were only dependent on my strength and my effort that the flame of spiritual life would have been extinguished long ago. I often marvel that it keeps burning. This illustration reminded me that the work of grace in my soul is God's work. I am so thankful for my Savior whose mercy and power continues to pour the Oil of His Grace in my heart.