Chewing on a command to obey as I wrap up Hebrews. Went back deep in my journal archives and noodled on some thoughts from 2010. I smile at the things that came to mind then about “the camps I’ve had to leave” as I consider the other “camps” life has had me exit since then. But what hasn’t changed is that it’s still about “going forth to Him.” Whatever context “outside the camp” may take, it’s there we find Jesus. Rerunning those thoughts this morning.

For the better part of 13 chapters he has contended for their faith. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews addresses those who thought that they had seen in Jesus the prophesied Messiah and had put their hope and trust in Him . . . most likely they had publicly declared their faith through baptism . . . identifying themselves with this new movement that preached a salvation apart from works. The Mosaic law, the temple, the Levitical practices, while all still very important and meaningful had become “the old way of life” . . . no longer viewed as the means of acceptance with God, but now seen as but a shadow of that which was accomplished by Jesus through His death and resurrection. But with this new Way came new troubles. Rejected by family, friends, and the Hebrew community at large, they wavered . . . was Jesus really Messiah? . . . is this truly the way? . . . is it worth the trial and struggle? And so, he contends for their faith.

And as he concludes his letter with a number of final exhortations, one in particular has me thinking . . .

Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”

(Hebrews 13:13 NKJV)

Just as the carcasses of the animal offerings of old, whose blood was shed for temporary atonement, were taken and burned outside the tent city of Moses’ time, so Jesus was taken outside the walls of Jerusalem to suffer and die. He, being the better sacrifice of a better covenant, was taken outside the gates of Jerusalem and there, that He might sanctify the people, He shed His own blood . . . securing once for all atonement . . . opening forever a way into the presence of God and into relationship with God. This way being made available to all who believe . . . apart from works . . . by grace alone. Free . . . but, as these believers were experiencing, not without cost. And thus, says the writer, we need to be prepared to go to outside the camp and bear His reproach.

I guess there are a few camps that I have had to leave in order to pursue this new life in Christ. The camp of the “faith of my fathers” or, in my case, the lack thereof . . . not popular initially, still not understood now, by many of my blood relatives. There was also the camp of the dance band and the world that it had brought me into — a world I was led to leave. And the camp of “normal college activities” which I felt I needed to sit out and take an outsider’s posture toward thus not quite fitting in. And as I think on it, I can probably come up with other camps that I have had to leave or decide to forego participating in because of a Spirit fueled desire to try and follow Jesus . . . to try and walk the talk . . . to be consistent . . . to be obedient. The reproach hasn’t been severe . . . the price doesn’t even compare to what others, in different parts of the world, are suffering for the sake of following Christ. But regardless of the degree of reproach, there was a trip to be taken . . . a one-way trip . . . a trip that I think all believers have to, at some point or another, decide to make . . . a trip to “outside the camp.”

But it’s not going outside just for the sake of being different . . . not just leaving something . . . not just “not doing” something . . . but we “go forth to Him.” We step out in pursuit of something better . . . Jesus. We go outside because being with Him and living for Him is so superior to staying inside. We exit the gates of that place because “here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Heb. 13:14). It’s not about looking back at what we’ve left, but looking forward to what lies ahead . . . considering “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

Oh, that God, through the Spirit living inside believers, would enable us to go outside the camp . . . whatever that might be . . . to leave the constraints of the old man and the old ways . . . to not be trapped by what others might think or not think of us . . . but, to go outside the camp in pursuit of the Giver of Life . . . to fix our eyes on that city to come . . . to set our feet upon pilgrimage to the place where He is the glory and the Light and the All-in-All. That He would lead us on this one-way trip . . . by His grace . . . for our good . . . and for His glory . . . amen.