Where No One Stands Alone

Where No One Stands Alone

Matthew 28:18-20

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen

There are times in all lives when soltitude is sought, to escape the press of the crowd, escape the pressure exerted by the majority and escape the despair of the singularity of the uniqueness of individuality that would otherwise be overwhelmed by the press and pressure of the multitude of like creatures, so unlike us in thought and in very being itself.

This need for soltitude and escape, of itself too often leads to further despair, further reflection on the inequities, (or more properly, perceived inequities), and inability of “ One Man” to make any headway as the press of the crowd is in the opposite direction of that taken by the one having found that direction in Christ Jesus.

It is during these times that that aloneness makes it impossible to stand, and requires another less comfortable position, that of kneeling, submission to the reality of the need for the companionship, compassion, affinity and closeness of the ONE who stood alone as no other could or can.

The opening verses of scripture point out that that aloneness that is both sought and feared at the same time need not exist, does not exist once the proper position is sought, once the proper solace and companionship is sought through HIM.

“Even unto the end of the world” is the promise given, and the promise delivered as well!

There is, also a need to FIND the means of attainment of that promise before it may be claimed!

That need, too, must lead to that same admission of individual inability to change anything in and of yourself….direction must be sought and found through Christ Jesus!

The song used as title today addresses that need.

Where No One Stands Alone

Once I stood in the night
With my head bowed low
In the darkness as black as could be
And my heart felt alone and I cried oh Lord
Don't hide your face from me

Like a king I may live in a palace so tall
With great riches to call my own
But I don't know a thing
In this whole wide world
That's worse than being alone
Hold my hand all the way, every hour every day
Come here to the great unknown

Take my hand, let me stand
Where no one stands alone

Take my hand, let me stand
Where no one stands alone

This simple prayer, conveyed through song makes the request for Jesus to take the hand of one too weak to stand alone despite all the accomplishment and wealth acquired over a lifetime, yet who has come to realize the valulessness of both things acquired and ability of self.

It is a request that must be made, one of Godly sorrow, true repentance, comprehension of the power held only by Christ Jesus provide that solace requested and grant hope, certainty, equity, joy, and most importantly one that reflects the love of our Savior that provides what is truly requested, the grace of God.

No matter situation, no matter the cause of desperation, no matter the low to which any man has fallen, that solace, consolation and love are available.

There will always be cause for lamentation, cause for consternation and confusion, cause for despair so long as that solace and love are not sought and accepted.

Man continues to seek that solace, without accepting the love offered by Christ, trying, vainly and failing to find it in the things he has control of.

It is sought in substance abuses, pursual of pleasures, pursual of wealth, pursual of power and on and on as what is pursued is only the visibly false rewards of man’s own efforts, his false faith in himself without true faith in God and what is provided only by HIM.

Each of the things pursued lead to death, each remains temporary and cannot provide hope, solace or love, either in this world, or beyond the grave to which none of these things may follow.

The only thing found by man that must and will follow through this pursual is the despair, hopelessness, and inability to reconcile any of these when the separation from God becomes final and eternal if that recognition of HIS love is not pursued while it is to be found.

Proverbs 8:17-21

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

¹⁸ Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

²⁰ I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

²¹ That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

That inheritance is eternal, if asked for, diligently sought, and accepted on the terms with which it is given.

Matthew 7:7-8

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

What is asked for must first conform to that which has been, and is given that which was, is, and will always be the intent of God for this creature called man.

Matthew 6:33

King James Version (KJV)

³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The asking must be of the ONE with the ability to give, and with the understanding that acceptance of what is given is also required.

No one stands alone if standing with the help of Christ Jesus, none is able to stand without the hand that lifts from the kneeling position to the standing.

Only those who attempt to stand on their own will stand alone in the Judgment, even there those who choose to accept what Jesus has done and continues to do will have an Advocate standing with them, none standing alone before God, but standing in the certainty of the forgiveness and love offered and delivered through His life, ministry, sacrificial death on the Cross and resurrection.

Those standing alone then will indeed stand alone.

Revelation 20

King James Version (KJV)

20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

² And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

³ And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

⁵ But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

⁷ And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

⁸ And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

⁹ And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

¹¹ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The time has come to kneel, and to stand only with the helping hand offered through the love of Christ Jesus.

Amen and Amen

CMc