John Bunyan tells a story that illustrates the believer’s attitude towards life in this world.
He writes, “I next saw in my dream that Christian was taken to a small room where two children sat, each one in his own chair. The name of the older one was Passion, and the younger Patience. Passion seemed to be quite discontent, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, ‘Why is Passion so unhappy?’ Interpreter answered, ‘Their guardian wants them to wait for their best things until the beginning of next year, but Passion wants everything now. Patience, however, is willing to wait.’ Then I saw someone come to Passion, offering him a bag of treasure and pouring it out at his feet. Passion quickly picked it up, rejoiced over it, and began to laugh scornfully at Patience. I noticed however that before long Passion had wasted all of his treasure and had rags left only for clothing.’ Christian turned again to interpreter, ‘Explain this matter to me more fully.’ ‘These two boys are symbols,’ answered Interpreter, ‘Passion represents the people of this world and Patience represents the people of the world to come. As you can see Passion wants his treasure right now, this year, that is to say in this world. This is how the men of the world are; they must have everything right now…But as you observed he quickly spent all his treasure and was left with nothing but rags. And that is how it will be with all such people at the end of this world.’ Christian said, ‘I can see now that for many reasons Patience has the best wisdom. First, because he waits for the best things, and second because he will have glory while the other has nothing but rags.”
