The past couple of days lots of us have been rather isolated from the community-at-large, because hazardous weather conditions have kept us in our homes. For some, that has been blissful family time. For others, well....the Christian rapper Ludacris posted a vid on his Instagram of his kids going a little stir crazy. Got to love the one in the diaper and furry boots. Ludacris is begging the area school system to open back up immediately!
As we say in the South, "bless his heart".
Though some of us enjoy a hermit-like existence more than others, we were created for fellowship with others who are like-minded. In the Christian context, that is fellowship with other believers in Jesus Christ as Savior as Lord. However, this is not the primary fellowship for which we were created.
The first, primary, most crucial fellowship is with our Creator and Savior.
Proverbs 18:1 ESV
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
He created us for this fellowship with Him, not isolation from Him.
This morning, I got up and began my morning routine, the 3rd step of which is to take a tiny little pill that I've had to take daily, before breakfast, for the past 27 years. Usually, that goes predictably. It's a habit, right? Not this morning. I don't know what happened, other than I put the water in my mouth. Somehow, though, it got up into my nose, which caused extensive coughing, hacking, gagging, spitting. I found myself staring at the little pink pill in the sink. (No, I was not the red pill from The Matrix movie, all you smart alecks out there.....)
Here's the thing: humans were not created to inhale water, which is apparently what happened to me this morning, even though I had done this same routine some 18,000 times successfully. When we act, intentionally or not, against how God created us, we do not flourish.
Sometimes, the results of our actions are immediate, like with my pill escapade this morning. Other times, it takes more time to become evident, like a slow-growing tumor.
Those who don't know Jesus Christ as Savior are isolated from God in the most extreme way. They are literally dead, spiritually. Sometimes, they have deliberately chosen this path. Other times, they are deceived into thinking they are worshipping the Triune God - - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, when in reality they are merely worshipping a false god of their own choosing. And then, there are those who have not ever heard the gospel message.
We who belong to Jesus, who claim Him as our Lord, though, are not immune to the perils of today's proverb either. Even though God's Holy Spirit actually lives within us, we often deliberately make choices to isolate ourselves from Him. Why? Because, as the proverb says, we want to seek our own desires.
Then, there are those of us who isolate ourselves with the Lord and become "so heavenly minded we are no earthly good". There is no virtue in that either.
If you learned to ride a bicycle or to snow ski or some other physical skill that provides enjoyment, what sense does it make to afterwards never do it again? "Ok, now I've learned to ride the bike. I think I'll put it away and never ride again. Mark that off the list." That makes no sense! Those are the words of someone without sound judgment.
The Christian life is designed to be lived both vertically (our communion with God) and horizontally (our communion with others). It is designed to be practiced, not hoarded. The bounty of spiritual gifts Christians are given when the Holy Spirit enters them are meant to be used, both for the glory of God and for the advancement of Jesus Christ's kingdom.
I was talking with my son's sweet girlfriend a few days ago. She had gone on her first snow-skiing trip (she's 19) and had learned to ski that first day she was on the slopes. But, it was not without falls, aches and pains. This beautiful young lady is in great physical shape. She is majoring in dance in college. Still, she fell several times in learning to ski. Finally, she mastered it and was able to spend the second day on the slopes skiing successfully with my older son.
Oh that the Christian life were so unilateral! A few falls, and we'd "have it". But, no.
And, because the resplendent walk is full of detours, potholes, skinned knees, sore muscles, even broken bones at times ... some of us respond by isolating ourselves from our God or from each other.
Has that happened to you? Are you "there" now?
If God has called you to a brief period of isolation from others, for a specific purpose .... and He sometimes does this .... well and good. Those periods of isolation are never meant to be permanent though. If you are truly seeking Him during such a time, He will equip you to return to the community of faith. Because that is how He made us.
So about that pill....I picked that little, pink sucker up and, the second time around, swallowed it down. Here are a few verses to encourage you to draw nearer to God today, no matter how far away you are, or for whatever reason.
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 145:18
To all who call on Him in truth. Hmmmm....
Draw near to God, and he will Draw near to you.
James 4:8a (ESV)
James, who wrote these words, was the half-brother of Jesus (Mary was his mother too). For part of Jesus' earthly ministry, he thought Jesus was a lunatic (Mark 3:21). After Jesus' resurrection though, James became a believer, went on to be the head of the Jerusalem church and died a martyr's death. That's some cred, I'd say. Here's the rest of that verse:
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8b
He did not mince any words, did he?
And, finally this morning, the beautiful words of Isaiah:
"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost. "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. "Incline your ear and come to Me Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
Isaiah 55:1-3 (ESV)
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