It was when I was reading a certain book about religion and the occult that I realised the psychology behind religion. In one argument, based on their research, it was suggested that religion is profound and dominant among communities and people who are less privileged, with problems, and on negative extremes in life. In other words, it is more common to find religion among those who are not doing well in life. And that’s why it is very prominent in third-world countries and among poor people.
Christianity in itself, being a religion, makes me wonder how many people actually choose to pursue Christ out of true love or because life isn’t going well.
How many people do you know who are doing well in life and still go after or pursue religion that much?
Shall we say then that the research was right? That it’s only those who are suffering and without hope that turn to Christ as a last resort?
Well, this assumption is somewhat true but in reality a lie.
The journey to follow Christ is actually deeper than most Christians know. It goes beyond religion. Yes, beyond just prayer and fasting. It’s a culture, a habit, a lifestyle.
Look at Israel, a country that was once lost, enslaved, with no hope and aspirations. Not until God remembered His promise to Abraham and called them to Himself. However, in observance of His promise, God gave them new laws, new habits, and a completely new lifestyle. We also see something else: if indeed Israel was sure to take over the promised land, how come they ended up roaming for 40 years in the wilderness before crossing over the Jordan?
One may say it was because of their lack of faith, but that doesn’t explain what caused this. Why didn’t they have the faith, even after having seen all those miracles in Egypt?
If even the miracles couldn’t get them to believe, what would?
Is that why God let them go back into the wilderness? To show them how to conquer their inheritance?
The most interesting fact is that this journey is almost identical to what every single Christian goes through on their way to salvation. It may start well when one has just been born again and everything may seem like a soft bed and pure roses. Although as we mature and go deeper into faith and start maturing, things may get a bit complicated. The temptations get stronger, the urge to fall out of faith becomes louder, and sometimes God doesn’t seem to be as close as He was before.
This is the wilderness. And almost every one of us has gone or is going through such a phase. Israel lacked faith because it hadn’t matured in knowing God, as is the case with most modern-day young Christians—those young in the faith. Israel had not learnt the ways of God to heart; they had no sense of freedom and were physically free but still had an enslaved mindset! The bodies were free but the mentality was still in prison. Sort of like a born-again Christian who is still lusting over worldly things. Yet as we know, our God is not the type to give you the car and also teach you how to drive. The latter is normally your task as a Christian. But Israel never knew this at the moment, and so are many immature Christians today—who want miracles but are not willing to work hard, who want God to heal their diseases but can’t even go to hospitals and get proper treatment, those kinds who think God will throw money into their accounts miraculously because they prayed the whole night!
Such people are not ready to share in the solid food of Christ.
Israel was cast back into the wilderness initially because they were not ready, and so are many stagnant Christians right now—roaming in the wilderness, to and fro.
God put His way in the wilderness for a reason. Not because He hates you or wants you to fail, but because that’s the best way to get you to mature, to die to the world, and become born again through testing, refinement, and baptism into a completely different person.
That’s why many end up losing heart or even falling out of faith, because what they wanted from God, they may not receive immediately or exactly as they wanted it. The wilderness is like a sieve that separates the wheat from the chaff, the rice from the dust, righteousness from sin.
Israel had to spend all those years roaming in the wilderness in order to be refined, retaught, and born again. That’s why the Israel that left Egypt died in the wilderness and those who were born there are the ones who crossed over the Jordan. And so it is with you as a Christian.
On your way to Christ, instead of only looking for the miracles, expect snakes, trials, temptations, and even much worse. In these life-threatening circumstances, problems, and tribulations is where you are refined and made into silver and gold. In this wilderness is where you are made. Even so was it for David, Job, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and for any Christian.
Instead of whining and complaining to God in prayer, be thankful and grateful for His guidance—even when you are at your lowest. God knows and is very much attentive to your case. This is because He loves you, and as a Father who disciplines His child when they are deviating from the right path, so it is when He lets adversity come your way. He does this to teach and mature us in faith, so that we are able to face even harder trials and temptations. As He is even more faithful, that He will not tempt you more than you can handle.
Israel didn’t lose when it turned around but was transformed and conquered the promised land before it even crossed the Jordan. Read that again. Through faith. By the time they crossed, all they had to do was remember and practise the ways of God they had mastered in the wilderness, and they were able to conquer what God had promised them. Even more so are modern-day Christians who have been through the wilderness; they are more ready to conquer and prosper not only in faith but also in the world.
