"Let us leave the camp of accepted religion and self-righteous works and go to Christ knowing that, in so doing, we will incur the displeasure of those yet in the camp and will experience the same public contempt that Christ bore."

Our flesh would have us emphasize the "outside the camp" aspect of this verse, for the flesh sees an opportunity for self-glory in such a departure. "See, I left false religion; I'm not as foolish as others. With what noble courage do I bear the reproach of men because of my stand for the truth!" But, the Spirit teaches us that the more important aspect is the "go to Him" part. In fact, there is no value whatever in going "outside the camp" unless we do so in order to "go to Him." I fear that some go "outside the camp" only to form a new camp, a new place of refuge in the flesh. Some depart "Camp Freewill" only to enter "Camp Calvin." Some depart "Camp Corruption" only to enter "Camp Siniai." But believers go outside the camp to Christ: not "Camp Christ," but just Christ. He is their defense. They find in Him all the refuge they need. They feel more secure in the open field with Christ than they could anywhere else without Him. They go outside the camp, not because they consider themselves superior to those inside the camp, but because they consider Christ superior. Their hope for those yet in the camp is that they, too, would come to Christ. Let us, indeed, go outside the camp; but never let us glory in our departure. Rather, let us glory in Him who suffered outside the camp so that we would have reason to go "outside the camp."