In a vision I saw the Church of God in the depths of a vast desert. In our flesh we avoid deserts. The vision , I suppose, is metaphorical for the narrow path that leads to life. It makes no sense to think that if I was seeking abundant life that I would seek it in the desert. Yet there it was, the church of God, surrounded by a mighty desert. There was no way to the heart of it but by striking out and heading deep into a place where my only resource, in fact life itself, would be God. If He did not go before me I would die, I would never get there. If He is not a cloud over my head then the sun would kill me. If He is not a fire by night then I will surely freeze to death.
There is nothing attractive about the desert. It is not an alluring place, in fact quite the opposite. Lot chose the well watered places and planes of Sodom in which to dwell. It was near a wicked city, but it was plentiful and life was easy there. Yet at what cost? Does the choices that we make have consequences? We may not lose our souls in the process but we certainly can have leanness of Spirit, the very opposite of the abundant life. The cares of this world, the proximity to Sodom, or the ease we have in Babylon certainly factor into our walk with the Lord. Only when asked to leave this place or give it up can we know what hold it has over us. Lots wife would have had doubts, but in the turning round to look back at what she was leaving, the question was answered. The desert was not for her.
A Call To The Remnant 