John Bunyan had a remarkable ability to represent everyday truth in impressive allegory. One of the most vivid representations in his story, Pilgrim ‘s Progress, has to do with what happened in the Valley of Humiliation.

No sooner had Pilgrim entered this valley than he saw the foul fiend Apollyon bearing down upon him, breathing fire and smoke. Pilgrim’s first impulse was to turn and flee for his life. As he was about to do so, however, he remembered that the only armor he wore was on his front side. Reasoning quickly in the light of this fact, he decided that if he had nothing more in mind than simply trying to save his life it would be better to stand and face the evil dragon than to expose his unprotected rear to the firey darts.

This approximates the message in the Scripture lessons…