15, The Atheist and Ignorance

Those Whom We Meet at the End of the Road

The pilgrimage had now reached its final ascent.
As Christian and Hopeful walked slowly, gazing toward the golden ridges of Mount Zion,
they saw someone descending toward them from the opposite direction.
His name was Atheist.

Atheist — The One Who Denies Heaven

15–1: The Atheist — a man who says there is no God, yet is ensnared by the whispers of the evil one.

Christian greeted him politely.
“We are on our way to Mount Zion. May we ask where you are heading?”

Atheist curled his lips into a mocking smile.
“I too spent many years searching for that so‑called kingdom.
But now I know better.
Heaven? Judgment? Eternity?
It’s all a human-made illusion.”

His voice carried a hardened blend of cynicism and pride.

Hopeful answered gently,
“There is a world beyond this world which cannot be seen with the eyes.
But the invisible is not the unreal.”

Atheist shrugged.
“I met a man on this road—his name was Ignorance.
He laughed at your religion.
Says he believes in Christ,
yet lives wickedly.
And still he claims he’s going to heaven! Ha!”

At the mention of the name, Hopeful’s expression changed.
“Ah… so that was Ignorance?
Then it makes sense.
He seems to know the truth,
yet he has never met the Lord of truth in love.”

Christian quietly added,
“The Scripture says, ‘Faith without works is dead’ (James 2:26).
We are not saved by works,
but true faith always testifies through a transformed life.”

Atheist smirked one last time and turned away.
“Go on, then—seek your paradise.
As for me, reality is far more certain.”

He walked back into the darkness.
For a moment the two pilgrims watched his fading figure,
and then silently resumed their steps toward Mount Zion.

---

Ignorance — One Who Speaks of Faith but Knows Nothing of Grace

In The Pilgrim’s Progress,
Ignorance is one of the figures with whom Christian and Hopeful converse the longest.

If the Atheist is the one who denies God outright,
Ignorance is the one who claims to believe in God,
yet knows nothing of the gospel.

He confessed,
“I believe Christ died for sinners.
And if I keep His laws well,
He will surely count me righteous.”

It sounded pious enough.
But the center of his belief was not grace—
it was self‑righteousness.

He was devout outwardly,
knowledgeable in doctrine,
faithful in prayer—
yet what he trusted was not Christ’s perfect salvation
but his own efforts and moral performance.

He thought,
“I am a righteous man.
I have served in the church for many years.
Surely God must see me as worthy.”

Such faith is perilous,
for self‑righteousness always obscures grace.
And when grace is lost, faith becomes nothing more than ignorance.

Even today, this “faith of Ignorance” is found in the church.
Some serve outwardly
yet inwardly cannot forgive,
cannot love,
and when their pride is wounded, they forget the gospel entirely.

“I am an elder.
Unless you come first and apologize,
I will never forgive you.”

Or even when an apology is given,
they insist it is not sincere enough.
In those moments,
their position becomes not a testimony of faith
but a shield of self‑righteousness.

But Jesus said clearly,
“If you do not forgive others their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15)

Ignorance knew the gospel as information,
but he knew nothing of the life of the gospel.

Fig. 15-2. Ignorance, cast into hell by the devil before the Heavenly Gate

Ignorance Reaches the Gate of Heaven

Ignorance eventually arrived at the very gate of heaven.
But the gatekeeper asked him,
“Then sir, do you have your certificate?”

He could not answer.
At that moment, the devil emerged from the shadows,
seized him,
and hurled him into hell as though cutting through the air.

His final cry echoed,
“I said I knew the Lord…!”

That cry still challenges me today:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 7:21)

---

Along the St. Isidore Pilgrimage Path I

With these words held deep in my heart,
I came to the St. Isidore Pilgrimage Path in Jeju Island.

Fig. 15–3: A view of the St. Isidore Pilgrimage Path, Jeju

This path was not merely a walking trail,
but a journey backward through the time within me.
With each step, the Lord’s suffering and love came alive again.
The wind blew softly,
and the distant toll of bells reached my ears.
I felt as if I were walking the hill of Golgotha, two thousand years ago.

Fig. 15–4: Jesus on the cross with the two criminals

There, the Lord bore the heavy cross.
Even as nails pierced His palms and blood flowed,
His gaze remained full of love.
He prayed for those who cursed Him:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Beside Him were the two criminals:
one mocked Him,
while the other, in his final moments, said,
“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

And the Lord answered him,
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Recalling this scene, I paused and asked myself,
“Have I entrusted my soul to the Lord as that criminal did?”
The question echoed deeply within me.

---

The Light of Resurrection

As evening fell, I reached the end of the pilgrimage path.
Amidst the red glow of the sunset, the church’s cross stood tall.

Fig.15–5: Those who laid Jesus’ body in the tomb; among them was Nicodemus of Little Faith

In that moment, I realized:
The path of the cross does not end in death.
Rather, it is the gateway to resurrection.

Three days later, the Lord opened the tomb.
Showing His disciples the wounds in His hands and side, He said,
“Peace be with you.”
And on Pentecost, He sent the Holy Spirit.

His love transcends time and space,
living and active within me at this very moment.

Reflecting on that grace, I confessed,
“I believe in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

And now I walk again,
upon the St. Isidore Pilgrimage Path,
following in His footsteps,
engraving the love of the cross upon my heart:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)