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