Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada
JUNE / JULY 2004
Cover |
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One-On-One with Jeff Frankenstein |
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Socially Acceptable Sin
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The Music of Duvall
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More Than Accountability
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God in the Wild
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The Pond or the Power
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Surrender
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LifeLine
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Viva III
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GOD IN THE WILD (page three)
Temptation
The clarity that comes through solitude never comes easily.
Solitude may provide freedom from external distractions, but it
leaves us with our own hearts. Just as God's voice is amplified,
our own sin is magnified in our eyes. There is a great temptation
to despair at the quality of our spiritual lives. The wilderness
is a place of temptation.
In ancient Israel the priest would bring two goats together and
cast lots over them. One goat would be sacrificed to God and the
other sent to Azazel, a particular demon living in the desert. The
priest would put both hands onto the head of Azazel's goat, confess
the sins of the nation, and set it free to run to the desert. The
desert was a place of demons and sin.
The desert was also a place of physical danger. Criminals of all
sorts would hide in the desert to escape justice. Bands of thieves
would organize there, and wild animals were always a concern. To
enter the desert was to place your life in danger.
Jesus is our leader here. He challenged the desert, and conquered
the worst temptations that Satan could offer. After forty days,
his physical reserves were at their lowest-but his relationship
with his Father was at its highest. Satan arrived and tempted him
physically, religiously, and politically.
We still struggle with these same temptations today. First came
the physical temptation. Create bread from stone. The temptation
was immense. Jesus is fully human and fully God. He would have
been hungry after forty days without food. Still, the offer of
bread was not just to satisfy his own needs. There was an idea
circulating in Judaism concerning a Messiah who would show up and
feed all the hungry. Jesus ultimately did feed his people-but with
his own body and blood. He refused to short-circuit the cross by
becoming only an earthly source of food.
Time in the wilderness helps us to work through this same
temptation. When I camp, I try to keep the weight of my pack
under forty pounds. This is easy on a two night trip, but after
the third day in the wild and I end up eating a lot of dehydrated
food. After the third or fourth day of living on Mr. Noodles and
pasta packets, I'm craving restaurant food. It's incredible how
desperate a few days without real food will make you. Luke said,
"blessed are you who hunger . . ." (6:21, NIV), and Matthew adds
" . . . and thirst for righteousness" (5:6, NIV). Living on
dehydrated rations reminds me of my need to hunger and thirst for
godliness just as much as for Chinese buffet.
Second was the religious temptation. Throw yourself off the
temple, and let your Father catch you. Flaunt your divinity.
Essentially: become a religious circus act. This is an especially
prevalent temptation in our society. Take a look at religious
programming on TV! Sideshows abound. The circus: "Use my bone
fide snake-oil-the cure for every ailment." The ministers: "For a
small faith-gift, you too can own water from the river Jordan that
will cure all your diseases." The cries are almost
indistinguishable. Time spent alone with God reminds us that our
religious acts are for him alone.
How do you pray when you're around other Christians? Do you lower
your voice? Try to sound more majestic and serious? Use proper
words and phrases like, "Lord God, Lord," and "in this place
tonight"? Time alone with God reduces religious clichés to dust
in our mouths. When there's no one around but God, all layers of
insincerity are stripped-we're left with God and our own hearts.
Next: Growth - Page 4.
