The Solitary Life
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. I Peter 2:11 (New Living Translation, NLT) emphasis mine
Peter spoke to believers and called them temporary residents and foreigners, or strangers and pilgrims as the King James Version translates it. Truly, we are strangers and foreigners in this world. At times, Christians who sincerely follow the Bible, may live a very isolated and solitary life, even when surrounded by people.
I don’t know about you, but it can be very difficult to find anyone with whom to have a real conversation about the Bible. In the secular workplace it is nearly impossible to find people to connect with on spiritual issues, and it can even be difficult in the church to find this as well. It seems that fewer and fewer people are following after God wholeheartedly. It looks like compromise and lukewarmness abound. Christians who pursue a deeper relationship with God really are a remnant. But, there is good news.
And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” I Kings 19:14-18 (NKJV)
We are not alone in our desire to live for God. Just as God had 7,000 men who had not bowed their knee to Baal in Elijah’s day, God has others today who are sincere in their love for the Lord. We may have to look to find them, but they are there- people who live by strong spiritual convictions and who take the Bible as absolute truth. We are part of a small, but powerful army.
Just as God showed Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor, God will lead us to people into whom we can pour our knowledge and anointing. We may or may not be surrounded by spiritual giants, but we can impact the spiritual growth of others we know to allow them to rise to higher levels of faith.
Yes, it can be a solitary life to follow the Lord, but when you feel alone in your faith journey, remind yourself that there are others strategically placed by God who follow Him devotedly. You may not see them or know where they are, but they are there. You are not alone. And wherever you are, find someone that God wants to be your Elisha, so you can train them up and bring them to new levels in Christ.
