Outside the Camp

"Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!' ... and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp."
~ Leviticus 13:45-46 (NKJV)

Behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him.
~ Luke 5:12-13 (NKJV)

"Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness ..."
~ Matthew 25:30 (NKJV)

Rustic camping (without electricity) provides two places after dark: campsite with companions, fire and provisions, and outer darkness. The outer darkness is no place to dwell long or alone.

The plight of a leper is truly one of the Bible's most poignant depictions. The infectious illness not only brought physical suffering, but the leper lived alone, outside the camp and its comforts—marked by torn clothes, bare head, covered mouth, and a cry to keep others away.

Sin creates spiritual lepers. Without salvation by a life of faith in Jesus, ostracization outside the camp will be eternal. Once we become Christ's, we need continual cleansing from sin lest we infect others. Sin's insidiousness is a leprosy that clings to us with defiant tenacity.

The Lord is willing to make us clean.

Lord, though Your blood covers our sin, we still live with its infection. We cannot heal ourselves. We desperately need You to make us clean. We implore you to cleanse us from the iniquity which draws us to sin. We want to dwell close to You and Your light.

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