Lessons from a Desolate Place Pt. 4 by Chris White

Coptic Monk in Egypt

     In the 4^th Century the deserts of Egypt received a reverse exodus of Christians desiring to leave the general population and seek God in solitude and silence.  As I discussed in my previous installment the physical geography of Egypt was such that a sort walk from any city put you in the land of the “red earth” but beyond the simple practicality of being close by, there was also a spiritual viewpoint that had long been attached to the desolation of the desert.  If you’ll remember the chief motivation for this migration was seeking a deeper and greater Christian commitment in a time of spiritual shallowness.  It was the common perception that after Constantine, Christianity had conquered the city.  But now it was time for the committed to launch a new war and attack the stronghold of the Devil.  Why did they think Satan lived in the desert?  Because that is where Jesus was tempted by Satan (Mt. 4) and where Jesus said demons go when they have been cast out of a man (Mt. 12:43).  To the Christian mind of this time, the desert represented a key place to engage in battle for the sake of God’s Kingdom.  But the desert was more than a battleground against the devil, it was also a proving ground of the truth.  That will be our topic next week.