Pilgrim's Progress' Mr. Temporary: Falling Away

John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress contains a character, Mr. Temporary, who serves as a clear allegory for believers who begin the Christian journey with apparent commitment but fail to persevere. Mr. Temporary initially sets out for the Celestial City but abandons the path entirely ([02:42]; [03:15]). An important explanation of his failure is that his conscience was awakened but his mind and affections were not truly changed; conscience stirred him, but genuine conversion did not take root, and he returned to his former ways ([04:13]). This pattern closely parallels the biblical figure Demas, who is described in 2 Timothy 4:10 as having “fallen in love with this present world” and who deserted faithful service ([04:49]). Demas and Mr. Temporary together exemplify Christians who start well but ultimately drift away from the faith.

The process by which a professing believer becomes “temporary” in their faith is gradual and systematic. Bunyan’s allegory outlines a sequence that commonly leads to falling away: ceasing to think seriously about God, neglecting private duties such as prayer and Scripture reading, avoiding fellowship with other believers, growing cold toward public worship, criticizing fellow Christians and the Bible, increasingly associating with worldly companions, and finally committing open sin ([28:42] to [32:42]). This progression demonstrates how small, repeated concessions and spiritual neglect culminate in abandonment of the way.

The Reformed doctrinal standard articulated in the Westminster Confession of Faith frames the Christian life as ongoing spiritual warfare: believers are engaged in continual conflict on three fronts—against the world, against the flesh, and against the devil ([21:45] to [21:57]). Sin remains within, temptation is persistent, and the devil actively opposes perseverance; these realities make vigilance and guardedness essential for every believer ([22:14]). No one is inherently exempt from the risk of drifting; perseverance requires sustained spiritual effort and dependence on divine grace.

Prayerful resolve and dependence on Christ’s presence are central resources for enduring faith. John E. Bode’s hymn “O Jesus, I Have Promised,” written as a prayer for committed living, encapsulates this reliance: “Oh Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end; be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend.” The hymn affirms that fear of the battle is overcome by Christ’s nearness and that wandering from the pathway is prevented when Christ is the guide ([20:27] to [21:27]). Such devotional commitments cultivate the affections and habits that counteract the drift exemplified by Mr. Temporary and Demas.

Cultural metaphors about love sharpen understanding of spiritual affections. The idea that “love changes everything” highlights how where one’s heart rests determines life’s trajectory ([34:43] to [35:01]). The contrast between loving the present world and loving the appearing of Christ clarifies the choice faced by every believer: Demas “fell in love with this present world,” while faithful Christians are defined by their love for Christ and readiness to remain steadfast ([33:24]). Popular expressions about lasting devotion—such as the lyric “If I fall in love, it will be forever”—serve as useful metaphors for the seriousness of spiritual commitment and the permanence that genuine conversion produces ([35:15] to [35:28]).

Mr. Temporary and Demas together function as a sober warning: apparent beginnings are not the same as enduring transformation, and a succession of small compromises and neglects will ultimately determine one’s spiritual outcome. The theological framing of continual spiritual warfare, the devotional prayer for Christ’s sustaining presence, and the moral clarity provided by allegory and cultural metaphor all converge to underscore the necessity of vigilance, regular spiritual disciplines, loving devotion to Christ, and steadfast community in order to persevere on the way to the Celestial City ([02:42]; [21:45]; [20:27]; [33:24]).

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Alistair Begg, one of 1769 churches in Chagrin Falls, OH