"Not Alone"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Not Alone"       

     

     Under the radar.  Behind the scenes.  Far from the crowd.  Most of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ was lived in private rather than public terms.  Scripture records only one "public" episode during the first 30 years of His earthly lifetime, on the occasion of being left behind at the temple in Jerusalem where He astonished the religious teachers by His wisdom and knowledge (Luke 2:42-52).  Even during the three years of His ministry, the Lord Jesus often retreated to solitary places in mountains, the wilderness, and gardens to seek the privacy that characterized so much of His earthly lifetime.  He often sought aloneness - because He realized He was not alone.

    "I am not alone, because the Father is with Me" (John 16:32).

    Because we "walk by faith, not by sight," the presence of God with and within born again believers presents great challenge to our remembrance and affirmation.  We know He is with us.  We believe the truth as a matter of doctrine and conviction.  However, life often tempts us to feel, think, and act as if we are alone.  No less than David the Psalmist, a man sure of his Lord's "very present help in trouble," also cried out, "Why standest Thou afar off, o Lord?  Why hidest Thyself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 46:1; 10:1).  What we know to be real is not always what we feel, nor do appearances always indicate the loving and vibrant presence of our Lord at all times, and in all things.  "I watch, and am as a sparrow alone on the housetop" (Psalm 102:7).

    A great portion of our life finds us alone - but not alone.  The challenge of solitude calls us to remember the One who sought solitude because He knew so well the Father who is best found under the radar, behind the scenes, and far from the crowd.  This is written as a simple reminder that in Christ, God bestows upon us the gift of Himself as the Life of our lives, the abiding Presence, and the fulfillment of our hearts.  "I am not alone, because the Father is with Me" said our Lord.  Because of His redeeming work on our behalf, we can say the same.  We must, first, because the Truth is true.  And then, because our Heavenly Father would have us realize the reality known so well by the Lord Jesus - "I am not alone."

"I am with you always."

(Matthew 28:20)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

(Ephesians 6:11-12)