The Bible has much to say about "the wilderness." The Old Testament includes lengthy discussions involving Israel's wilderness experiences. For them, the wilderness was largely a place of deprivation, dangers, and other hardships. Though it was also the place where they frequently witnessed manifestations of the living God. In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus first spent forty days and nights in the wilderness before he entered upon his public ministry. For Jesus, too, the wilderness was a place of deprivation and danger: the devil himself was there. John the Baptist - as well as the prophet Elijah - were intimately familiar with the wilderness. Moses spent practically his entire adult life in the wilderness. "The wilderness" evidently represents - something - that is common to every Christian's life.
"The wilderness" is a metaphor
It is therefore needful to understand the symbolism of the metaphor. Of first importance, I believe, is that the wilderness symbolically represents separation from the world of men. In Nature, "wilderness" is characterized by the absence of human activity. But what is the nature of that separation, spiritually speaking? Christians are explicitly commanded, in Scripture, to live a life separated from the world; not as hermits or recluses, but as those who belong to an Order of Creation radically different from that which is populated by the fallen race of humanity. Such separation consists in the Christian's beliefs and worldview, the expressions of which have real consequences in the world. The Bible refers to Christian persons living in this present world as "aliens," "pilgrims," "strangers," etc.; and, so are Christians perceived as such by non-Christians. That dichotomy at all times imposes a sense of alienation in the minds of both Christian and non-Christian alike, so that there inevitably appears a wall of separation between the two in every encounter between them. As a result, the wilderness is a lonely place for the Christian.
Humans are, by our God-given nature, social beings; yet, humanity was separated and alienated from God, by the Fall. Thus alienated from the Source and Sustenance of his being, fallen Man suffers alienation both within himself as well as between himself and others. Redeemed individuals, however, being restored to fellowship with God, should no longer feel alienated from God. Still, there remains the separation between Christian and non-Christian ~ which, grief associated with broken fellowship, is felt most keenly by the Christian (although, non-Christians also, albeit unconsciously, also sense a separation between themselves and Christians). Loneliness thus is experienced by everyone, in some measure. For the unbeliever, the sensation of alienation and loneliness perpetually compels them to seek distraction in some or another activity, amusements, worldly pleasures, carnal relationships, or mind-altering substances. Christians, on the other hand, find comfort and joy in fellowship with God, as well as with other, like-minded Christians.
It is one thing to understand something about the nature of the wilderness I have alluded to. It is quite another thing to understand anything about how to stop the endless cycle of wandering around in the wilderness, and to come finally to possess the Land of Promise.
Which brings us to consider the ongoing problem of the lack of true Christian Community, especially in America and other erstwhile Christian lands....
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There is no couth way to put it: True Christians, in America at least, are suffering greatly from the lack of genuine Christian Community! How can we function as the "body" of Christ ~ whilst living such typically isolated lives? Is it not the case that most churchgoers seem little concerned one for another outside of church meetings? It was not so for the early Church, whose exemplary lives and spiritual practices are recorded - for our sake - in the book of Acts. There was the Church in great power and joy! There was the Church in Revival power evangelizing the world. There, were individuals who understood the message of the Gospel called them to lay down their lives and serve each other in the love of God.
Today, almost without exception, the churches have strayed so far from Jesus Christ that they are unrecognizable as being associated with him in any meaningful way. I think it is actually the case that most churches are in fact opposed to the reality and truth of Christ.
I often meditate on the experience of the Christian Reformers throughout the late-sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When the Word of God became accessible to them, and thus they learned how corrupt the Church in their day had become, at first they had no thought of leaving the Church, there being at that time nowhere else to go. They wanted only to purify and reform the Church. Nevertheless, they discovered that the leaders of the Church, in order to preserve their privileged lifestyle, were willing instead to persecute the would-be Reformers. So it is today.
At length, after much suffering and persecution, the Reformers understood they had no choice but to leave the Church altogether. But where to go? What to do? The answer, though clear to them, was no less clearly challenging: They must form their own Christian Community separate from the 'visible' Church.
Of necessity, I suppose, those newly formed assemblies were more organic and less well organized, compared to the centuries-old Church they had then recently forsaken. They gathered themselves together not to perform rituals or read some liturgy but, rather, to encourage, comfort, and assist one another in very practical ways - including prayer and fellowship in the Word. To be sure, they were committed to learn and to follow the pattern of life set forth in the Word of God. They were also careful to avoid everything that deviated from that pattern, especially, those practices that had long been associated with the Papal Church, i.e.: stately buildings; priestly adornments and manners; titles; man-made rules and rituals; lifeless religiosity; and, not of least importance, unquestioning obedience to 'authority'.
The Christian Reformers were finding their way out of the wilderness. It was not an easy task, nor was it a quick journey to their freedom. Rather, it entailed: seriousness of mind; soberness of life; determination of purpose; clarity of vision; patience and persistence in the face of persecution; and, above all, commitment to the truth of God. They searched for - and found - the "strait gate" that opened unto the "narrow way"... that leads to life.
If ever we needed a new Reformation, that time is now. Just as men of understanding and courage were then needed to bring about such a Reformation as they did (through God), we need men like that, today: who love the Truth of Christ more than earthly life; who prefer the Kingdom of God above personal gain; who see the need - and who believe the possibility - of heaven-sent Revival in our day.
In Scripture, the wilderness represents a time and place of testing and of preparation....
But there must also come a time when God's people come out of the wilderness.
The only ones who remained - and perished - in the wilderness were the unbelieving.
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