.jpg)
Not long ago, as Mark and I settled into bed, we started watching a TV series called ALONE. If our tv is ever on, it’s when we decompress from the busyness of the day. The show we’ve been watching is called Alone.
ALONE follows the self-documented daily struggles of 10 individuals as they survive in the wilderness for as long as possible using a limited amount of survival equipment. With the exception of medical check-ins, the participants are isolated from each other and all other humans. They may “tap out” at any time, or be removed due to failing a medical check-in. The contestant who remains the longest wins a grand prize of $500,000. (Wikipedia)
These contestants are not just anyone. They are trained in survival. They were vetted in a rigorous selection process. They have years of experience. They were not going in ill-prepared. And they were each allowed to select a handful of survival items to take with them. Think of how vital the selection of items must be.
While watching the show, we saw some distinctive developments in the contestants every single season. I mean, change the location, change the people, change the circumstances, and still, these things would emerge.
- Most of the contestants would be crying around day 40. And it was like they all cried on cue. As if there was a barrier that was breached in their psychological wellbeing. In the end, victory came to those who could mentally/emotionally endure.
- Each season, the one who emerged as the winner was able to beat weakness, hunger, injury, exhaustion, and fatigue. But, more than anything else, they battled against loneliness. I remember telling Mark one evening, “This show validates that God created us with a need for community, a need to connect with other flesh and blood.”
Could I be on a show like ALONE? Frankly, I don’t want to find out. I probably would not make it very long. Did I mention there are wild animals, some of them dangerous?
Now in season 4 (I think), I have drawn an interesting parallel with the show and my daily life as a Christ-follower. I trust you’ll identify.
The other day, I was reading in Luke, and something jumped out at me that reminded me of ALONE. It’s the account of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness.
Luke 4: 1-2 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.
I was able to really draw a picture in my mind of what he may have endured and how that might have looked. He was ALONE.
In His vulnerable state, Satan comes to tempt Him. This would be the time in ALONE that Jesus might consider tapping out. But instead, He pulls out His survival tool and fights back with the Word of God. Satan, seeing Jesus was anchored to the Truth of the Word, left Him. But look at what verse 13 says:
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
(Satan) departed from Him until an opportune time.
Brothers and sisters, that is all Satan is looking for in your life – an opportune time. What a powerful sentence! I’ve had to spend some time reflecting on it.
Satan, seeing his attacks on Jesus had been futile, didn’t give up, and say, “Well, Jesus IS the Son of God. What’s the use?” He leaves intending to return at an opportune time. If he was looking to ruin Jesus, then we’d all better be on alert. Friend, we are in his crosshairs.
He’s looking for an opportune time to take us down.
- He waits until you are spiritually starved (no time in the Word or in prayer and fellowship with God).
- He waits until you are tired (emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally drained).
- He waits until you are wounded (hurt by others, carrying unforgiveness and scars from the past, betrayed, disillusioned, numb).
- He waits until you are weak (duped by lies, pride, sin, rebellion, indifference, entitlement, selfishness).
- He waits until you are lonely (feeling isolated, misunderstood, unloved, unseen)
How are you doing? Are you on alert? Have you thought about tapping out? The enemy desires to take you down. If he is able, he will destroy your family, your influence, your testimony, your life. He’s just looking for an opportune time. Is this an opportune time for him to step in? Consider me your wake up call. DON’T GIVE UP. DON’T TAP OUT!
Instead, I want to encourage you today to equip yourself against the attacks of the enemy. Don’t give him the opportunity. God’s Word actually has something to say about any and all the things you might be struggling with.
Are you hungry?
In John 6:35 Jesus says – “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
Are you tired?
Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Are you wounded?
Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” God Himself promises to bind up our wounds as we bring them to Him.
Are you weak?
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Are you lonely?
- Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
- Psalm 27:10 says, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.”
- Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
.jpg)
Last evening Mark and I were talking with a friend who had watched a season or two of the show. Mark said to him, “I’d take my Bible as one of my survival tools, and I think I could do it. I think I could stay til the end. I would fill the void of loneliness with reading God’s Word and spending time with Him in prayer.”
I piped up. “I don’t think they let you take a book.” Mark replied, “I just don’t think any of the contestants considered a book to be a valuable survival tool and opted for other things. But I would bring my Bible. And I believe it could give me what I need to endure to the end.”
Jesus Himself said, when tempted, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’.”
I feel like that’s a perfect point to land on. God’s Word is what will keep you til the end. Are you in a wilderness? Are you in survival mode? Don’t let the enemy find an opportune time. Cling to God and His Word, and His power to endure.
He will strengthen you. He will keep you. He will be with you.
To the very end.
