Rachel and I have recently started watching the show Alone. It is a show where 10 people are to survive as long as possible in the wilderness with only 10 items. They are their own camera crew and have no human contact during the duration of their time in the wilderness. Away from civilization and human contact, the contestants are constantly under the threat of being eaten by bears, starving to death, and they must endure the discomfort of the harsh weather. Alone will make you thankful for all the modern conveniences you take for granted and show you how blessed you are to live in a community, to have a house with AC and an abundant food supply.

The author of Hebrews, as he nears the end of his book, exhorts Christians to emulate Jesus, “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” (13:12–13; LSB). Jesus’ departure outside the gates in 13:12 is a reference to his death on the cross outside of Jerusalem. The author then takes Jesus’ departure in a symbolic sense: to go outside the city is to leave the “camp” of this world. Thus, Christians emulate Christ by dissociating themselves from society and bearing his reproach by leaving the camp, which represents this world’s values.

Yet, just like in the show Alone, going out into the wilderness is extremely unpleasant. We do not get to enjoy all the pleasures of dwelling in civilization. We will have to renounce many “privileges” that others get to enjoy, like amassing wealth, living any way they want, and having no responsibility to God. Yet, if Jesus was willing to leave heaven to enter the chaotic wilderness of this world; if Jesus was willing to descend the Mount of Transfiguration to journey to Jerusalem where he would be mocked and ridiculed; if Jesus was willing to depart from the city to suffer and die for us, so also, we must be willing to leave the comforts of this world to endure the hardships of the wilderness. For it is in the wilderness where we find our salvation and sin offering (Heb 13:11–12). We must have faith that God will turn this wilderness into an abundant garden, that he can make water flow from stones and nourishment to fall from the sky.