It may have seemed like Jesus was leaving them
alone when he said this. After all, he was then "taken up;
and a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9).
It is hard to think of someone being with us when he is out of
sight. These were among the last words they heard Jesus speak.
These words must have contributed to the disciples' sense of "great
joy" as they returned to Jerusalem (Lk. 24:52).
There are times when a Christian may feel "alone."
It may occur when there is a separation of some kind. For example,
the death of a very close loved one may leave us feeling alone.
It is hard to go on after losing a beloved spouse, a parent, a
child. We cannot begin to imagine our lives without them. However,
go on we must. David came around to this reality after the death
of his son. He recognized, "I shall go to him, but he shall
not return to me." (2 Sam. 12:23). His terrible sense of
loneliness was overcome by his realization of a coming reunion.
When family or friends move away, they may leave
us feeling alone. As I write this, a number of friends are saying
goodbye to their college-bound children. The parents come home
to a quiet house. Their child's bedroom is carefully preserved,
and they feel alone. They remember the good times and cannot imagine
being separated from someone so dear to them. They must focus
on the prospects for future togetherness.
Some have felt the agony of watching their brethren
leave the truth. In some places, whole congregations have left.
It is a lonely, painful experience to see brethren once faithful
depart from the Lord. "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis
which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with
me in white: for they are worthy." (Rev. 3:4). How lonely
those few at Sardis must have felt! What could they do? All they
could do was remain faithful and keep going on. They had to be
reminded that they would walk with Jesus in white.
In the loneliest moments of life, it is good to
remember the words of our Lord, "Lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world." God gives us the motivation
we need to keep going. He recognized long ago that it is not good
for a man to be alone. (Gen. 2:18). Christ is with us in the dark
days as well as the bright ones. We have his word, his example,
his influence, and his people!
God surely knew the importance of staying in close
fellowship with our spiritual family when he enjoined upon his
people a faithful attendance to the assemblies of the church.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:25). "For
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the midst of them." (Mt. 18:20). One of the keys to
combating spiritual loneliness is exerting a deliberate effort
to strengthen the ties that bind us together in Christ. This may
require changing our routine to be together with God's faithful
people.
Worshipping together with faithful Christians
is a regular reminder that we are not alone. Jesus sings with
us when we sing (Heb. 2:12); he partakes of the communion with
us when we partake (Mt. 26:29); his word fills our minds when
the gospel is proclaimed (Rom. 10:8-17); and he lives within our
hearts when we make him Lord of our lives. (Rom. 12:1, 2).
Earthly friends may leave us. They may move away,
they may die, they may abandon or forsake us. Jesus Christ never
will. He said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will
come to you." (Jn. 14:18). I felt the sting of loneliness
when youth and friends had passed, When comrades of a brighter
time had gone their way at last; 'Til, struggling with a fainting
heart, mine eyes I opened wide, And sweetly saw my Savior dear
still standing by my side.
Surely, we serve a Lord who will never leave us
or forsake us (1 Sam. 12:22). If we remain loyal and faithful
to him, he will guide us safely through this short life, "even
to the end of the world," and take us home to be forever
with him and the redeemed of all ages. 21536 Leitersburg-Smithsburg
Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21742. rveil@washco-md.net
(Robert is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University
and has been a gospel preacher for over 25 years. He is also a
full-time prosecutor with the State's Attorneys' Office in Washington
County, MD. He worships with the Central church of Christ in Martinsburg,
WV when he is not preaching. Editor)