So, that didn't last long, our life in Paradise. Barely two chapters, and then there we were, pushed out and left to our own devices. And frankly, given our track record from Genesis on, being left to our own devices is no way to be. But it sure feels human. And I guess that's the point of the Bible. Sure it's a story of how God works, but it's just as much a story of what God works with. Us. A creature that couldn't last two chapters in Paradise.
And off we go, out into the wilderness of life where every step is another choice, and every choice, it seems, another temptation. And every temptation, another opportunity to sin. We sure can't get away from that with these readings, can we? Heck, Paul uses the word 5 times in the first sentence alone in that Romans reading. It's with us today, and really, it's with us always, and recognizing that and deciding what to do about it is part of what Lent is all about. It's a long journey, the journey of a lifetime, but how we walk it is as important as the destination. Because the destination is always the cross. How we come to the cross is the point.
Over this winter, I've been occupying some of my time with a solo RPG. For those of you scratching your heads, that's the less-dorky way of saying Dungeons and Dragons or DnD. And when you travel across the maps, you frequently find yourself in places of desolation, of wilderness. And you have no choice really but to journey into it, and hopefully out of it. And when you look at the map from above, all out there on the table, it looks fairly benign, but it is always the place of danger, wickedness, of sinful creatures, demons and devils and their minions that have given up much to gain so little. And walking through is fraught.
And that's where Jesus finds himself today, journeying into the wilderness. When Brooks and I were in Israel, we drove through that wilderness several times, and it's hard to tell that there's danger there, other than thirst. Thirst can be its own kind of temptation, I suppose, a driving force, something we see more and more as more of the planet runs out of water. But the creatures in the wilderness of Israel are there also, waiting, unseen behind a crag or in a valley. There is even a valley there called the Wadi Qelt, which in the Psalms has another name, The Valley of the Shadow of Death. And it is around here that Jesus confronts Satan.
This is such a singular story in our Gospels. Jesus runs into demons now and then, but this is straight out of DnD, good confronting evil, and everything hangs in the balance of the roll of the dice. What if things went the other way? In games you can always back out of your choice, pretend it didn't happen. But this is life, and Jesus chose his path in the Wilderness. But what about us?
Because it strikes me that Jesus knew where he was going (the Spirit led him, Matthew says). And he knew where he was going because, I think this is a well-worn path. And let's face it, we've all walked it to some extent.
What the devil offers Jesus is not unique to Jesus. What the devil offers Jesus are things so many of us would readily accept.
“Turn these stones into bread,” the devil says. “You are hungry. Your desires are eating at your insides. All that glistens, all that satiates. The food that causes you to want more, the drugs that cause you to feel less. Fancy reservations with fancier people, cutting in line in the best places. People meeting your needs, your wants. Every hunger met, hunger you didn't even know you had just a moment ago. A gluttony that thrills you from your waking up to your sleeping. It can all be yours. Just take one bite...of the apple.”
“Throw yourself down and the angels will lift you up,” the devil says. “Angels! The world will see you being surrounded by angels. Surrounded by important people, people that are so important in their own lives, but still cater to your every need. Powerful people who will humiliate themselves for your entertainment. People who will lie and twist the truth to stroke your ego. Those who will step into the breach and defend you, regardless of your sins and iniquities. Those who will create a new reality, devoid of truth, to ensure you live happily in your life of lies, the lies you tell yourself. The lie that you are great, even though we both know you stopped being great when you listened to me. But that will be our little secret.”
“All these kingdoms I will give you if you just worship me,” the devil says. “World power on the world stage among world leaders. Armies and navies. Motorcades and state visits. Treaties and global currency trading hands. Red phones with black buttons that can destroy the world. Phone calls in the middle of the night. 'Sir, please,' kings will say, with tears in their eyes. 'Save me, we used to be friends,' princes will say as they fight for their freedom. It can all be yours to play with and punish...and if you follow me, it can be yours to destroy.”
These temptations. This devil and these temptations. History is replete with those who have walked into this wilderness, into this Valley of the Shadow of Death, and preferred the shadows of the devil to the light of God.
Only one man, at every turn, unblinking and unflinching, says, “No. For it is written...” And it has been written since those few chapters of Genesis. It is written from the moment that man and woman were driven out of Eden, for at that moment, it is written that God goes with them. And God walks beside them. And leads them and teaches them and does God's level best to love them, as hard as we are to love even to this day. God went with them, and the spirit of God went with Jesus to the wilderness. And y'all, that spirit goes with all of us, but most of us don't see it, so tempted we are by the things that kill. But Jesus saw. Jesus saw God, even in the wilderness. Jesus saw the alternative to what the devil was offering.
That alternative will lead to the cross, yes. The wilderness is never easy. As Paul gets to in Romans, grace may be free, but grace isn't cheap, that’s what makes it valuable. But the grace of God truly feeds us what we need. The sole companionship of Jesus is worth more than any entourage or administration of leeches. And the mighty power of the Holy Spirit is more powerful than any throne or medal or award bestowed by weak men on one another.
It's hard in the wilderness. And the path is littered with the bones and reputations of those who listened to the devil. And there are people following the devil into his darkness even today. But the light of Lent is bright for those who gaze on the cross. And it will lead them to that Paradise that was so easily lost, but so ready for our return.
Amen.