There have been times in my life when I have lived in confusion, walked through times of testing, and battled spiritual challenges. In those times, I was living in the wilderness. The wilderness where, at first, I felt lost and confused, hurt and alone. But each time I’ve stepped into the wilderness, I’ve realized I was never alone. The Holy Spirit showed up each time, changing me with a change of scenery, a change in the way I was living, a change in how I interpreted who I was called to be, and a challenge to live a life set apart from the world.
There was a man who lived a unique life; many called him crazy as he freely abandoned the world around him...to live in the wilderness.
John the Baptist was set apart for a special service to God. Even before his birth, Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, delivered a special message to his father, Zechariah.
“But the angel said, 'Don’t be afraid Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly'” (Luke 1:13-17, NLT).
Imagine a declaration that powerful spoken over John’s life. I would imagine most people would walk in pride, boasting of their own existence as divine in nature, and feeling as if the world owed them lavish living as a result of the declaration of blessings. But John chose not to live that way.
In the book of Luke, the “wilderness” where John the Baptist lived and preached represents separation, testing, and spiritual purification.
“Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” (Luke 3:4, NLT).
John the Baptist chose to be physically alone in the wilderness before his ministry began, but he was divinely accompanied by the Holy Spirit. He used his time in solitude to seek the kingdom of God and to know Him intimately. With all distractions removed, John embraced the separation from society as an act of repentance. He willingly denied worldly pleasures, knowing his treasures stored in heaven far outweighed anything this world could offer. In his repentance, an act of obedience, John became attuned to the Lord’s calling on his life.
He knew his identity in God. He understood that he had been created for a specific purpose, and he was fully committed to fulfilling his mission: to prepare the way for the Messiah.
“At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven” (Luke 3:2-3, NLT).
John was a humble servant, but certainly not a weak man. Preparing the road meant removing spiritual, emotional, and worldly obstacles. He had grit, and he wasn’t easily swayed by the desires of the flesh. He was a man of determination and deep conviction. His conviction led to confidence in his God-given identity, and that actually drew people to him.
He spoke with authority and power, and his words breathed life into an oppressed Jewish society desperately seeking truth and light. His calling called them to repentance, encouraged them to turn from sin, and led them to be baptized. John was called to let others know and experience the blessing of “living in the wilderness.” He wanted them to have the divine encounter with the Holy Spirit, to experience a life of living freely abandoned from the heaviness of chaos and worldly distractions. He was called to help them clear their hearts and minds, equipping them with the tools needed to clear their own personal paths for the work of the coming Savior.
Through John the Baptist’s ministry, the Kingdom of Heaven was ushered in.
Now I have a question I’d like you to think about: What if John had ignored his calling? What would have happened?
It wouldn’t have stopped Jesus from fulfilling his ministry and revealing his identity as the Messiah, but John would have forfeited the spiritual anointing over his life. He would have missed the incredible honor of baptizing Jesus and witnessing the Spirit descend upon Him. He would have missed the great joy in knowing that his people would be rescued. He would have missed it all.
Friend, let me ask you this: What has God called you to do? What are you missing by not answering his call on your life? Don’t waste your time staying in the world, I want to encourage you to take a step into the wilderness and lean in. I pray that it’s an opportunity for your personal growth and a time to be shaped and refined into the calling God has placed on your life. Live your life set apart and watch what God will do.
-Lacey
Let’s Talk about it: What has God called you to do? What are you missing by not answering his call on your life? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
About Lacey:
Reminder of Truth: Our bracelets are designed to be reminders of truth as you wear God's word throughout your day.
Our CALLED bracelet serves as a reminder of your identity in Christ: You are called. Click the image below to learn more.
1 comment
I don’t even know where to start. I was living a life of complete sin before I moved to Georgia. Drinking heavily, partying, took part in a very unhealthy relationship, had mental health issues. I was supposed to be on medicine but with out insurance I couldn’t get it. I was very very sick. I was working two part time jobs to make money and it went pretty good for a while. My ex roomate was an alcoholic. She even used to drink alone which was really bad. The relationship between us pretty much died. It ended and I had no where to go. I wound up moving in a trailer with a co worker of mine. There were always a bunch of people over doing drugs. I started going to church with a friend of mine. The people at this church loved on me so much. I got a little freaked out when asked a bunch questions. I guess it’s safe to say I got kinda offended. I loved this church though and it grew on me. When me and my ex roomate split the car I was driving broke down. I had to quit both my jobs because I had no way of getting there. I tried the system for awhile but that didn’t really work out either. I told the leaders at church about my living situation and one of the ladies offered me her condo to live in. I was supposed to be paying rent but I lost both my jobs and could no longer afford it.She called me to let me know they were putting it up for sale. So I had to call my dad. One night at church I heard the message and heard God call my name. I remember the exact song that was playing when it happened. I was such a mess and knew Jesus wanted my heart. The church helped me with money while i waited for my dad to come and get me and they fixed up an old ladies car for me to bring down to Georgia. I wish I could say that once I moved down here I totally turned away from my sins but I didn’t. I was stealing, walking out of restaurants with out paying, and wound up in another unhealthy relationship. I even got caught running up my mothers credit card. She could have put me in jail but decided against it because she knew I would never find another job otherwise. I was in and out of this unhealthy relationship for 13 years. It has since ended. I have be single and abstinent for almost 3 years. I know what you mean when you talk about the wilderness. Sometimes I feel lost cause I’ve lost so many relationships in my life. It’s hard letting go and letting God. But now I feel a sense of peace that God has given me because I am walking with Him. Yes I do struggle with sin and temptation at times but I have learned to give it to Him. There is nothing He can’t handle. It’s just a matter of dying to self on a daily basis and letting my walk with Him be more important then falling to my sin.