The exodus of Israel from Egypt, the wandering in the wilderness of Sinai, and the entrance into Canaan, constitute one of the greatest of the Old Testament types (symbols) of the Christian salvation.

Traditionally, Egypt is regarded as a type of the earth, the wilderness wandering is viewed as a type of our life on the earth, and Canaan is considered to be a type of Heaven.

We believe this understanding to be incomplete and misleading.

Egypt is a type of the world system, not a type of the earth. The world system is wicked but the earth itself is not wicked. The wilderness wandering is to some extent a symbol of the life we live on the earth in that our instruction and testings take place here. But by no means is Canaan a type of Heaven, unless by "Heaven" one means the Presence of God in Christ.

We Christians begin as members of the world system. The world spirit is made up of the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. People of the world are full of malice and wickedness. Their eyes have been blinded to the Glory of the Lord by Satan, the God of the present age.

The Spirit of the Lord speaks to us of the need for accepting the blood atonement made by the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. We are instructed to sprinkle by faith the blood of God's Lamb on ourselves so God will "pass over" us when He destroys the gods of the world. We are baptized in water as a sign we have entered the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

This is as far as many believers get. They sit in Egypt "by faith." They have never been taught that it is necessary for them to begin a "wilderness wandering." They do not understand the Christian way, believing they are required only to maintain a mental grasp on the facts of redemption and wait to die and go to Heaven so they may enter eternal life there.

There are other believers who, having better teaching, understand that to be a Christian one must leave the world, take up his cross, and follow the Lord Jesus every day. Leaving the world means, among other things, not becoming involved with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and spending time in prayer and meditation in the Lord's Word. The television is today's main purveyor of the things of the world.

The wilderness wandering is not a type of life in the world but of following the Lord Jesus throughout the many strenuous disciplines to which He subjects us. It is a life of coming to know the Lord, His holiness, His righteousness. In the wilderness of temptation we learn strict obedience to the Father. We no longer are part of the present age. We are pilgrims and strangers on the earth, looking for the city that has foundations to come down from Heaven.

To be continued.