Although many sectarian groups believe the Reformation ended with their particular denominational movement, the Reformation is not over. It continues! It's a work in progress that actually started immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve.
The real question is, will we follow on in the example of the saints who have gone before us? Will we do as God has done and abandon the old temple order? Will we go out to meet Him in faith as Abraham did with Melchizedek? Or will we do as the elders of Israel did and cling to the old order of worship, bowing our necks and resisting HIM who comes to lead us on into His marvelous light? Will we go to Him? Will we suffer His reproach outside the camp? Will we, like Abraham, heed God's call? Will we abandon everything that refuses to express His glory to seek that city which He alone can build? Will we believe the words of Jesus and seek only the economy of God's kingdom and reject the god of mammon? Will we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us out of the unholy mixture that has brought the church to its current powerless condition?
Are we calling you to follow us in a New Exodus? Definitely not! We are no one's deliverers! Just as John in the wilderness refused to take a title to himself, but when pressed as to who he was by the Jewish leaders said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, saying make straight the path of the Lord," that is our call and we are exhorting the Lord's faithful saints to once again move freely and obey the call of His Spirit.
The Prophet like Moses--Jesus--is still calling. He is still delivering the captives. He is still saying, "Follow Me." He is leading the great and final exodus and those who go out unto Him will once again find themselves outside the camp.
God is always calling man into a higher relationship with Himself in Christ. In order for this to happen, we must be willing to leave behind all that we once held dear. Even good things that God had once ordained can get in the way if we let them become more meaningful to us than following the prompting of His Spirit. The soulish nature of man and his need to have a permanent city or even buildings for worship here on earth have resisted the leading of the Spirit of God all through the ages. God made it clear from the beginning that His only spiritual house was to be made of living stones, those that truly love and follow Him alone.
We challenge each of you to listen to the voice of the Spirit of God within yourself and obey Him rather than the traditions of men that hold so many in bondage. Do only those things He asks of you. If He says stay, then stay, but if He is saying come out unto Him, then go forth to Him alone. There is a continuing upward call for the saints of God. To all who hear His call, welcome to the new exodus!
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3, KJV).
Notes
1Alfred Edersheim, Old Testament Bible History. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1972. Chapter 2. Online at www.godrules.net
2 William Whiston, translator. The Works of Josephus: Antiquities Of The Jews. Book 1, Chapter 2, pg 31. Written in the thirteenth year of Domitian, 93-94 A.D.
3 Adam Clarke, Clarke's Commentary. 6 vols. Carlton & Porter. 1857. NOTES ON CHAP. VI, Verse 5. Online version at www.godrules.net
4 J. W. Etheridge, M.A. The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee. 1862. Section II.
5 Jacques Ellul . The Subversion of Christianity. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986. pg. 211.
6 James Strong. Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Associated Publishers and Authors
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