"I Am With You"

(Matthew 28:20).

In an interview of a well known musician I heard recently, the gentleman referenced "the loneliness we all sometimes feel."

These are accurate words regarding the human condition. Human beings can feel lonely in a crowd of people no less than when we are literally alone. Something deep within us calls to somebody or something to fill the deep inner void from which we often may distract ourselves, but which is nevertheless there and often disconcertingly experienced. "I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop" (Psalm 102:7).

Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ know the "Somebody" who alone can fill the deepest part of our being. God Himself made the temple of our hearts for Himself, and as the philosopher of old declared, "we rest not until we rest in Thee." The Spirit of Christ must dwell within us if the great and cosmic loneliness of humanity's natural state is to be assuaged. Furthermore, we must devote ourselves to increasing knowledge and understanding of God's presence with us if we are to consistently overcome our native bent toward the sense of emptiness.

"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). On the cross of Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ embraced the dark reality of our loneliness. Abandoned by both God and man as He died for our sins, His was the most wrenching loneliness ever experienced in any human soul. Indeed, as we ponder the sufferings of Christ, no aspect of His passion should more break our hearts than the breaking of the Divine heart of the Son of God cried out for His Father and for the Holy Spirit - and for our sakes received no answer. No one ever knew alone as did our Savior, and this moment offers opportunity to bow our hearts and give thanks for such loving sacrifice suffered for us.

Upon the basis of His forsakenness, the Lord Jesus offers and provides the filling of our hearts with His eternal presence. To the degree He was alone on the cross of Calvary, we will never be alone. The great Companion of our spirits is with us always. Our experience of such grace is presently imperfect, and we can still at times feel the human pangs of loneliness. But never are we actually alone. The more we devote ourselves to this wonder of God's perpetually abiding presence with and within us, the more we will know the joyous fulfillment of "I am with thee." So much was given to provide this filling of our spiritual temple. May we respond with the faith and affirmation that chooses to believe that Christ Himself and Christ alone can so fill us that in the deepest part of us we know...

"In Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

(Psalm 16:11)