But the way must be long, and as there were the thorns and rocks for his feet, so must there be bruises to his spirit.”
–Zane Grey (Wanderer of the Wasteland)
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
–Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
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Paul wrote what he did following his conversion, “But I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem.” (Galatians 1:17-18, NIV) Most view this as Paul’s personal instruction time from the Lord. Three years in the wilderness, and many of us cannot handle three hours. As I have mentioned there are several kinds of wilderness experiences. Some just happen, a storm comes your way; something that is beyond your control. Then there is the wilderness that men face, such as Job, inflicted by the devil himself. There are some wildernesses that we enter because we want the challenge, or we want to lose ourselves, or we want to learn. These can come from within our being or they can be led by the Lord, such as Paul living in Arabia for three years to be instructed by Him. Lord, have mercy, you could even be like John the Baptist and live your life in the wilderness.
The wilderness can be a scary ordeal; do you dare take the first step? Will you enter your personal Arabia, or go to the backside of the desert to find what God has for you? The wilderness beckons, enter it at your own peril, but enter it you must. You must also realize that when you enter and come out on the other side you will be a different person. You will have added to your character, and gained knowledge and that valuable attribute–endurance. Be forewarned, there are some that enter who will not survive the ordeal, or will attempt to renege and go back from when they came, back to the land of Egypt.
Look at the definition of “wilderness.”
1) An unsettled, uncultivated region left in its natural condition.
a) a large, wild tract of land covered with dense vegetation or forests;
b) an extensive area, such as a desert or ocean, that is barren, or empty, a waste;
c) a piece of land set aside to grow wild.
2) Something characterized by bewildering vastness, perilousness, or unchecked profusion.
Also, keep in mind that much of what we see, feel and experience in a natural wilderness or wasteland experience can be applied mentally and most importantly, spiritually. It is important to realize that the wilderness beckons to all. However, many do not heed the call, or even realize that the call is there. Do not take the call or the journey lightly. Jesus, when in the wilderness, was tempted by the devil; there were also wild beasts with which He had to contend, so much so, that the angel came and ministered unto Him. Moses spent forty years learning the ways of the wilderness; then he had an encounter with “I AM,” and delivered the Israelites from bondage while taking them through another wilderness.
Some enter the wilderness singing and dancing, celebrating, but soon find that it was not what they were expecting; that the conditions are not conducive to their wanting style of life. It does not produce pogo-stick Christianity, but it does produce Christ-like results. See, the wilderness is a place of trial, a place of learning. It is a place of suffering and of bruising, whether it be the sole of your foot or the heart of your soul. Some enter the wilderness because of a lark, a dare, or maybe even as part of an extreme sport experience. Dangers, if they are mentioned are scoffed at; the warnings are considered foolish. Later, you or others may come upon their sun-bleached bones (whether physical or spiritual) and all you can do is shake your head in pity.
Notice the definition: it is perilous, bewildering. Do not become beguiled by the beauty, or the freedom, or the distances; for they can be illusionary. There is often havoc and confusion in the wilderness; people may lose their way. The unprepared, the naive, the scoffer and the mocker will find themselves in danger that often leads to death–the death of the old man.
Ahhh, but the value of the wilderness experience is without compare. Perhaps the shrinking wilderness is a cause for the lack of character in people today. Dare talk of a spiritual wilderness and people will scowl at you, for they want excitement, frivolity, and ease. That is not the way of the wilderness. Some will cry out, “For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12) Know this, without the cross, there can be no crown. Others may become a voice, like John, crying out from the wilderness, “Prepare you the way of the Lord.” Dare to follow the beckoning of the Spirit and enter.
—————————–
Paul wrote what he did following his conversion, “But I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem.” (Galatians 1:17-18, NIV) Most view this as Paul’s personal instruction time from the Lord. Three years in the wilderness, and many of us cannot handle three hours. As I have mentioned there are several kinds of wilderness experiences. Some just happen, a storm comes your way; something that is beyond your control. Then there is the wilderness that men face, such as Job, inflicted by the devil himself. There are some wildernesses that we enter because we want the challenge, or we want to lose ourselves, or we want to learn. These can come from within our being or they can be led by the Lord, such as Paul living in Arabia for three years to be instructed by Him. Lord, have mercy, you could even be like John the Baptist and live your life in the wilderness.
The wilderness can be a scary ordeal; do you dare take the first step? Will you enter your personal Arabia, or go to the backside of the desert to find what God has for you? The wilderness beckons, enter it at your own peril, but enter it you must. You must also realize that when you enter and come out on the other side you will be a different person. You will have added to your character, and gained knowledge and that valuable attribute–endurance. Be forewarned, there are some that enter who will not survive the ordeal, or will attempt to renege and go back from when they came, back to the land of Egypt.
Look at the definition of “wilderness.”
1) An unsettled, uncultivated region left in its natural condition.
a) a large, wild tract of land covered with dense vegetation or forests;
b) an extensive area, such as a desert or ocean, that is barren, or empty, a waste;
c) a piece of land set aside to grow wild.
2) Something characterized by bewildering vastness, perilousness, or unchecked profusion.
Also, keep in mind that much of what we see, feel and experience in a natural wilderness or wasteland experience can be applied mentally and most importantly, spiritually. It is important to realize that the wilderness beckons to all. However, many do not heed the call, or even realize that the call is there. Do not take the call or the journey lightly. Jesus, when in the wilderness, was tempted by the devil; there were also wild beasts with which He had to contend, so much so, that the angel came and ministered unto Him. Moses spent forty years learning the ways of the wilderness; then he had an encounter with “I AM,” and delivered the Israelites from bondage while taking them through another wilderness.
Some enter the wilderness singing and dancing, celebrating, but soon find that it was not what they were expecting; that the conditions are not conducive to their wanting style of life. It does not produce pogo-stick Christianity, but it does produce Christ-like results. See, the wilderness is a place of trial, a place of learning. It is a place of suffering and of bruising, whether it be the sole of your foot or the heart of your soul. Some enter the wilderness because of a lark, a dare, or maybe even as part of an extreme sport experience. Dangers, if they are mentioned are scoffed at; the warnings are considered foolish. Later, you or others may come upon their sun-bleached bones (whether physical or spiritual) and all you can do is shake your head in pity.
Notice the definition: it is perilous, bewildering. Do not become beguiled by the beauty, or the freedom, or the distances; for they can be illusionary. There is often havoc and confusion in the wilderness; people may lose their way. The unprepared, the naive, the scoffer and the mocker will find themselves in danger that often leads to death–the death of the old man.
Ahhh, but the value of the wilderness experience is without compare. Perhaps the shrinking wilderness is a cause for the lack of character in people today. Dare talk of a spiritual wilderness and people will scowl at you, for they want excitement, frivolity, and ease. That is not the way of the wilderness. Some will cry out, “For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12) Know this, without the cross, there can be no crown. Others may become a voice, like John, crying out from the wilderness, “Prepare you the way of the Lord.” Dare to follow the beckoning of the Spirit and enter.