The Purpose of our Wilderness

There are times when we feel as if we are in a wilderness.  Instead of having meaningful things to do, our life is on pause.  There is no noticeable growth.  It is a hard place to be in, but God has His purposes even in the barren places of our lives.

Purpose.  That seems like the opposite of the dry barren wilderness.  But indeed, the wilderness is a place God assigns to us before our purpose is fulfilled.  Let us look at the book of Revelation, where we find two very different women in the wilderness.

The first woman is described as a woman pregnant with the Man Child, pursued by the serpent, the devil, and given wings to fly to the wilderness.  This is the place prepared for her where she is out of the serpent’s reach.  She also is taken care of there. (Rev 12:13-14).  The woman stands on the moon, and is clothed in the sun.  In real life the moon reflects the sun, therefore we see that this woman is the embodiment of Christians which reflect the light of the Son of God.

The second woman we read about is called a Harlot.  She also is in the wilderness (Rev 17:3). She is clothed in purple, with the adornment of jewels and gold. In the wilderness she rides the beast, or the spiritual movement that wars against the Lamb of God.  Her adornment represents outward royalty and faith, and, being a harlot, she is the embodiment of believers who have given their hearts to false religion (see Rev 17).

In our own wildernesses we too are kept by the Lord.  As a place appointed to shelter us, we find ourselves on “pause” from our usual routines and separated from that which brings outward growth.  That is because the Lord is looking for depth of faith.  We cannot get depth from others. The woman who was pregnant with the Man Child gave spiritual birth to others, who like Him, had the voice of God inside. It is called the Testimony of Jesus, or the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev 12:17, 19:10). Our depth of faith comes from listening to and obeying God’s voice and will preserve us during those times when others are following falsehood.  The wilderness precedes our intimacy with God. The people who remain under God’s provision there will become His Son’s Bride.

Those who grow uneasy in the wilderness, who seek purpose in the world, will become false, like the Harlot.  They become the “waters” she sits on (Rev 17:15). Finding it hard to trust in a God who is not making anything happen in their lives, they will succumb to worldly religious pursuits, leaving themselves open to the deception of the beast, the false prophet, the serpent.  It is during their wilderness that they turn away from intimacy with God, for they do not listen to His voice.

When we find ourselves in a wilderness, then we should know that the Lord is calling us to intimacy, preparing us as a Bride for Himself. Our hope in God’s purposes will cause us to trust Him to work our wildernesses out for our good as we look forward to the intimacy of being His Bride.  Let us not turn aside to idle works, nor grow bitter while our lives are on “pause,” but realize that God has His purpose in every wilderness.  Amen.

Problems

God has created us for His glory.  Isaiah writes about bringing our sons from afar, “everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Is 43:7

Sometimes we have so many problems that we do not believe God has glory in mind. It is good to get God’s perspective on problems, and why we have them.

After Isaiah wrote about God’s intentions on bestowing glory on us, he writes that God “made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, (He) drew out the chariots and horses, and the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick.” Is 43:16-17

The Israelites faced their enemy, surrounded by them on one side and the ocean on the other.  Little did they know that God “drew” the enemy out just for the purpose of extinguishing them.

In our problems we see our enemies.  The temptation may be to say and do nothing so that the problems, and the enemies will go away.  Yet God has drawn our enemies to us in order to glorify us with His victories.  The words of our mouth are meant to contain wise counsel.  The actions of our hands are to show His glorious works.  Just like the Israelites, the Lord comes to us for glory and not for destruction.

“no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.” Is 54:17

It is worth repeating; God intends that our mouths have words in them, and our hands have actions, for He glorifies us in Him through these means. God flushes out our enemies so that He can extinguish them. The problems are only the outward manifestation of the spiritual battle we are to address.  If we can have faith in God during our problems, then we should have faith that He intends to work through us in those very same problems.

Let us not be weak in heart when problems surround us.  God has purposed that we overcome them, through Him. His glorious inheritance begins now, on this earth, and continues throughout our eternal life.  Let us address problems with courage, and faith in what God can do in and through those He is bestowing glory upon. Amen.

Foundations

Every now and then the Lord will give us a peek about the course of spiritual history.  On 11/24/12 I had a dream that gave just such a peek.  It is recorded below:

In this dream I was working in a yard where there were 4 square holes dug about 6 feet deep and wide. I was shoveling or sweeping a little.  Then someone would pour cement and fill the hole up.  There was a drain hole in the bottom of the dirt, and the bottom was level, like a floor.

After I had swept the first hole clean, it was filled up with cement and I began to work in the second hole. It had a level floor like the first, but there was a rectangle part at one end that was a few feet deeper. I noticed a leaves falling onto part of the floor where I was standing so I began sweeping.  All of a sudden there was a "swoosh" and enough leaves fell into the lowered part that it filled it up to the top of the hole, about 6 feet.  I considered how to take the leaves out, but couldn't come up with a way.  Then I got out of the hole and cement was poured into it.

The woman we all were working for called us to eat lunch and I knew that when she called, we had to come.  While walking there I thought about the second hole and realized that, as leaves decayed under the cement, the cement would crack because there was no solid ground under it.  When seated at the table, I told the lady that cement had been poured for the 2 holes.  I thought ahead to the next 2 holes, knowing there were leaves falling.  I determined that no leaves should remain in the holes before pouring cement. End of the dream

Symbolism interpreted:

6 = beginning of the number of man.  This has to do with men's works, for the holes were dug by men in times past and already existed.  These are God-appointed works, and faithful men dug them.  However, some men added to God's works.

I believe that the Lord is showing the holes as having their foundation laid during my life span.  I have lived during the 1st and second filling and have been called to help with this work.

Four represents government, or ruling.  God has begun laying foundations for His people to rule and reign with Him.

The 1st foundation was not difficult and occurred in my life after the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.  The floor was even and level, signifying that the unity of the Spirit back in the late 60s and early 70s.  I did a little sweeping, and then the foundations was poured after the work was complete.

The next hole was more difficult because it was uneven, though the different areas were level.  This shows a stratification, or hierarchy being part of the church structure. The leaves fell at the end of this season, showing that the Lord is shaking things (Heb 12:26-27).  The dead leaves are the opposite of the leaves from the Tree of Life in Revelation (Rev 22:2).  Instead of bringing healing to the nations, the dead leaves only occupy space and bring no substance upon which to build a foundation.  The dead leaves are men's written books and words that are from the imaginations of man but not of the Lord.  These would include books and teachings that lead people into dead works.  The foundations that is poured over these works will crack, whereas, in contrast, the foundation Paul laid could have other's works built upon it (1 Cor 3;10).

Lunch is the noon meal and a nourishing time.  It is a time of rest and refreshing in the Lord that each laborer needs to heed.  In Hebrews we read, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts . . . There remains, then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His." (Heb 4:7, 9). From the rest, God's refreshing will bring forth the next 2 foundations, built by His people. His people will not compete with each other, and their hearts will carry the love of their brethren, which will once again work unity amongst them.  However, those who do not heed His call to come aside and rest in Him will not be refreshed.  Instead of warmth towards each other, their hearts will grow cold (Mt 24:12), and they will work divisions amongst God's people by their competitive nature.

The Trial of Coldness

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.  But he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Mt 24:12-13)

One of the hardest trials Christians face is coldness. In this scripture "cold" is seen as the opposite of "love."  It is hard to feel unloved, unappreciated, and rejected in this life. Jesus did not speak about a cure for coldness.  He asked His people to "stand firm".  He admonishes us because coldness is a harsh trial.

When we feel unloved, we may seek to reconcile with those who are cold towards us. This can involve compromises, concessions, and denial of who we are in Christ. In the book of Revelation, Jesus admonishes those who are in the church of Philadelphia  to "hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." (Rev 3:11). These Christians were not welcome because of their faith.  Jesus called the false believers "those who are of the synagogue of satan." (Rev 3:9)  It sounds like the false believers did not love the true believers, nor did they think that God did.  But Jesus told the true believers that He would bring the false ones to their knees "and acknowledge that I loved you." (vs 9).

Love; God loves us.  It is precious to be surrounded with friends, family and brethren that love us.  But should we find ourselves in the trial of "coldness," we must stand firm in our faith.  As Christians, we follow One who suffered great rejection, and yet remained true to Who He was, and did the will of His heavenly Father.  Let us do the same.  And let us have warm hearts as we stand firm.  End.