Can You Stand Alone God Is With Us Our greatest trials and tests usually come upon each of us all of a sudden. Oftentimes, it seems we are all by ourselves. The spiritual reality is that we are not alone – God is with us. Even though Elijah said, “I am all alone,” he knew that God was very much involved in his confrontation with the priests of Baal (1 Kings 19:14). He was not alone as far as knowing that God was a part of what he was doing. The fact is this: We never walk alone – like Elijah, like Daniel, like David who so clearly proclaimed, “The Lord is with me.” Yes, from our physical standpoint and from our human standpoint, we have to step up to the plate; but we are not alone. Just as a parent does not abandon a child, our loving Father does not abandon His children. The plan of God will come to pass in His People. Jesus, the Son of God, was not alone, as He said in John 16:32, “…and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.” In death, Jesus Christ had to stand completely alone – something we will never have to do. Jesus bore our sins (Hebrews 9:28), “in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24) Jesus became sin. God the Father had to turn His back on sin, represented by Jesus, and allow Him to stand alone (Isaiah 59:2); Jesus Christ willingly did that. Hanging on the stake, Jesus said, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” God the Father turned away from Jesus to let Him stand alone and die alone. Why did God the Father forsake Jesus on the stake? Understand this: Our sins separate us from God because no sin can come into His presence. “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you.” (Isaiah 59:2). But Jesus became sin in our stead, and our sin caused Jesus’ Father to have to forsake Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus Christ was tempted in all points just like we are, and yet, He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). So Jesus Christ suffered the ultimate sacrifice in that He died alone on the stake without His Father. For us mere men, it is unimaginable what God the Father went through at the loss of His Son – the excruciating hurt, the pain, and the absolute loneliness. Jesus Christ was dead, and for the only time in all of existence, God the Father was all alone. Here is the good news: God the Father stood alone, and Jesus Christ stood alone, so that we do not have to ever stand alone. In times of testing, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalms 46:1) When we think we have it tough, think about that example. When we look to God, knowing that God is with us, it gives us the courage and maturity to step out in faith and stand alone. Jesus Christ wants to know if we will always represent His Truth in the face of adversity, no matter what. Are we able to stand alone when the attacks come against His True Way? Jesus Christ said in Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.” So, when all is said and done, He is with us in our Christian battle. When Paul had to stand alone in the serious matter against Peter, it was certainly not the only time Paul stood alone. As a matter of fact, it was Paul’s custom to go it alone when no one else was willing to stand up. A perfect case in point is when Alexander the Coppersmith openly opposed Paul. Please notice that although Paul stood alone – the Lord was with him! “At my first defense no man stood with me, but all men forsook me… Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me.” (2 Timothy 4:16-17) There is no safety in numbers or in befriending the powerful. We should have learned in the apostasy that began in the late 1980’s, that there is no security in being in large groups. Standing alone will not make you popular with the majority of people. Will you excuse yourself and follow along with the crowd, being a part of what is clearly wrong in God’s eyes simply because no one else is willing to stand alone? Or, will you stand on your own two feet and follow Christ no matter what? Jesus says to us, “Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34) Some people use the excuse that it is God’s responsibility, not ours, to make corrections in His Church. They are demonstrating that they lack the courage to stand for what is right. Others, however, will courageously take a stand, showing God that they will implement His way; not only now – but in the millennium as well. This is what God is finding out about us right now, and this is why He does not intervene to make “wrongs” right. It is so important that He sees what we will do under adverse circumstances. How will we respond? We do not have the option of whether or not to take a stand. We must take a stand. No one qualifies for the Kingdom of God without standing strong. We must prove ourselves and qualify. We must overcome. We have to walk in faith. Moses’ advice in Exodus 14:13, some 3,500 years ago, is still perfectly valid today. “Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand forth, and see the salvation of the Lord…” |
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