Braving The Wilderness: The Easy Way Or The Hard Way
In the wilderness, when we are afraid and uncertain, the tendency is to go: “God if you are really God, then you will get me out of this. If you are really God, you will make my life good.
What drives your decision-making. In the wilderness, when the stakes are high—do you do the easy thing or the right thing. Do you let the values of the kingdom of the world influence you or the values of the kingdom of God.
There was an article that really stuck with me recently—part of the title is: American is Paying a Heavy Price for Freedom.
The article points out how we use the idea of freedom as an excuse to serve ourselves before others, freedom becomes a shield to hide from personal responsibility.
The argument goes: I’m not wearing a mask, this is a free country, you can’t tell me to do that, and they are so hot and uncomfortable anyway, I’m not wearing one. Despite evidence that clearly shows that masks protect both the wearers and the people around them. Wearing a mask is not easy but it is right. Our marquee at the corner says: Love your neighbor as yourself. Wear a mask.
That’s the kingdom of God. It is this ethos of love of neighbor that leads to a society of self-giving and sacrifice and ultimately shalom.
Braving The Wilderness: God Provides
God provides in the wilderness. Author Anne Lamott puts it this way: “It’s almost indigestible: death, divorce, old age, drugs; brain damaged children, violence, senility, unfaithfulness. Good luck with figuring it out. It unfolds, and you experience it, and it is so horrible and endless that you could almost give up a dozen times. But grace can be the experience of a second wind, when even though what you want is clarity and resolution, what you get is stamina and poignancy and the strength to hang. Through the most ordinary things, books, for instance, or a postcard, or eyes or hands, life is transformed.”
God provides in the wilderness. Author Anne Lamott puts it this way: “It’s almost indigestible: death, divorce, old age, drugs; brain damaged children, violence, senility, unfaithfulness. Good luck with figuring it out. It unfolds, and you experience it, and it is so horrible and endless that you could almost give up a dozen times. But grace can be the experience of a second wind, when even though what you want is clarity and resolution, what you get is stamina and poignancy and the strength to hang. Through the most ordinary things, books, for instance, or a postcard, or eyes or hands, life is transformed.”
God provides, maybe not the all-you can eat buffet you really wanted but you’ll eat and be full, yes God provides, God provides, God provides.
Braving The Wilderness: Keep Going
If we want cleaner air, we can make it happen. If we want to protect our doctors and nurses from the next virus — and protect all Americans — we can make it happen. If we want our neighbors and friends to earn a dignified income, we can make that happen. If we want millions of kids to be able to eat if suddenly their school is closed, we can make that happen.
If we want cleaner air, we can make it happen. If we want to protect our doctors and nurses from the next virus — and protect all Americans — we can make it happen. If we want our neighbors and friends to earn a dignified income, we can make that happen. If we want millions of kids to be able to eat if suddenly their school is closed, we can make that happen. And, yes, if we just want to live a simpler life, we can make that happen, too. But only if we resist the massive gaslighting that is about to come. It’s on its way. Look out.”
So how do we resist the gaslighting that is about to come?
We have to break with Egypt in order to heal, we have to choose to break from the commands of Egypt—the consumerism, the self-centeredness, the greed, the narcissism, the pride, the ego, we have make an intentional decision to no longer live under these priorities anymore and choose instead to give our obedience to God, to live under God’s ordinances, God’s commands, which Jesus makes clear: love God and love others.