“It’s gonna be wild, its gonna be great, its gonna be full of Him” United Pursuit Band – Come Away
The safari guide wheels the truck through dirt roads of Kruger park. The sights are like nothing you’ve ever seen. This is the wilderness like you’ve never experienced. Its raw, its rugged, its wild in the truest sense. You spot the King of the Jungle. Not more than 30 feet from the jeep. You instantly feel so unsafe. He is most powerful in all the land. “Get out,” comes the voice. You turn your head to see what’s happened. The eyes are pointed at you. “Get out of this jeep.” he repeats. “ Surely he can’t be serious,” you think as your mind races. You get that familiar sinking feeling you’ve tried to rename, but now its true name is evident, FEAR. “GET OUT!” he screams. You slide out of the jeep, certain of only one thing, “this can not end well.” The guide laughs as he drives off and says, “don’t’ show fear!”
The lion approaches.
In order for a journey to be “wild,” you must be in the wilderness. The natural assumption is that the wilderness is a place of adventure, and it is. But what you find in your wilderness is…the enemy.
The greatest thing you will face, is your adversary.
The wilderness that Jesus was “led” or “driven” into, had only one real thing to offer. And that was Satan himself. IF you walk into the wilderness you will find your adversary waiting for you, roaming about like a lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The purpose of the wilderness is not the man who runs in, but the man who walks out.
The wilderness is a place you come to and realize, there is no where else to run. The running must stop here, and now.
The lion approaches.
Its eyes burn with the fire of the sun. The guide’s last words echo in your head, “don’t show fear.” But that is an impossible task now. Twenty feet…ten feet…five…two………one. Your greatest fears are upon you. You look down and see your body shaking. Just as lightning across a dark sky, your mind skips from one thought to the next with a speed even you can’t keep up with. Then it happens. The ROAR. Face to face with a roar that will carry for miles. You feel the waves of sound as they explode against your body. The ground actually trembles as the king announces his victory. In your heart and mind, you know you are done. You could run, but where would you go? You could scream but who would hear you? You could fight, but what good would come of it? “So this is how it ends.” you resign. You must face it.
You close your eyes and think of better times. Your heart beat counts the seconds…1…2…3…4…5…6…nothing. Its not that your heart stopped, its that nothing has happened. You dare to look. The light slowly creeps in through one eye and then another.
The Lion is no more than six inches from your face. Still piercing you with a gaze so intense you can’t stand it for longer than escaping moments. As you divert your eyes to the side you see that all the “wilds” that this wilderness has to offer are watching.
Stopped, to watch and ponder A King’s decision.
You see the enemy roams about LIKE a lion. So we fear him as though he IS one. But now you have seen the Lion. And this is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The fire that burns in his eyes are justice and mercy. And his roar is one that shakes the ground, and shakes the fear from you. He has called you to this place of wilderness to ensure you to face your fear, and face the adversary, but also to KNOW Him.
…the wilderness is always about the man who walks out.
Changing,
Matt
