Alone With God

No one can go far into the word of God without finding himself standing alone. Everyone who has been used of God has been forced to stand alone and to bear persecution; for the truth has not been in fashion since man first acted upon Satan's lie in the garden of Eden. Those who are determined to obey God and come to a complete understanding of His word have been compelled to travel alone, finding their greatest help in the solitude of God's presence. From this altitude of spirituality have drawn others up to their level. One must stand above the masses, if he would win and influence others to walk with God.

Had Abraham gone to live with Lot in Sodom, his influence would have availed but little. It was as he stood alone with God on the highlands of faith that his intercessions secured Lot's deliverance. Moses, in making this same kind of separation, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction and isolation in the valleys and on the mountains alone with God. In the midst of a wicked and sinful nation, Noah built the ark singlehandedly. Daniel prayed alone three times a day when all others were afraid of the king's command. Elijah sacrificed alone and brought down the fire from heaven after the false prophets had failed. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone while his people were taking life easy and drifting away from God into captivity. The apostle John was alone on the Island of Patmos when he received the revelations of God for the pastors of seven churches in Asia. The Apostle Paul, in describing his appearance before Emperor Nero to answer with his life for believing and teaching contrary to the theories and doctrines of men, wrote, "No man stood with me; but all men forsook me." Jesus prayed alone in the garden while his disciples slept. Yes, he was there all alone bearing the agony of that sad hour with not a soul on earth to befriend him. Oh, the sorrow, grief, and loneliness our Lord endured! He suffered, bled, and died alone, alone!

Through the centuries, our Lord has singled out men for the higher things in his kingdom, and these men have been the target of mass criticism, enmity, and hatred--not only from the world but also from many unwise children of God. The religionists of Jesus's time praised Moses and the prophets and persecuted Jesus and his apostles. During the early days of the Popes, Christians praised Moses, the prophets, Jesus, the apostles, and persecuted the saints. And Christians today praise the patriarchs, the prophets, Jesus, the apostles, and the martyrs, and persecute all who stand for like faithfulness today.

When Jesus said, "A man's foes shall be they of his own household", he was not altogether referring to one's natural family. For example, who were Jesus' worst enemies? The household of Joseph and Mary or the household of Israel? The household of Israel, of course. Who were Paul's fiercest opponents? Were they not believers from the household of Israel? From the beginning, all who have determined to follow God fully have been most cruelly persecuted by the God's own people. The Jews forced Pilate and the Romans to kill Jesus. Paul was called into question by elders of the church concerning the gospel which he preached.

It is only human to drift with the tide of public opinion. But it is divine to follow the Spirit of God and stem the tide. Dear reader, should you like to stand with the crowd, or should you prefer to stand alone with God, and thus prepare yourself to help the crowd? The "crowd", or the "church", needs leaders, men who will pay the price and dig deep into the hidden things of God, things that God wants His church to have and use, such as the signs that followed the early church in the days of the apostles. Men whom will without wavering, confess the truth that the born again experience is the baptism of the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues). When one stands for the "truth", he most often will stand alone, separated from the unbelieving multitudes that are satisfied with mere "religion" instead of the power of God.

Multitudes of dissatisfied and disappointed believers do not even dream of walking alone with their God. Yet, God often appoints His dear children to suffer pangs of loneliness, or the pain of betrayed friendship, the loss of loved ones, the heart cry of misunderstanding, that we might know to some degree the utter loneliness of our dear Lord. It is not in a crowd that the soul grows most vigorously.

However, merely being alone will not suffice. One can do wrong when alone. In fact, it is easier to do evil when no human eye can see. "Character", someone has said, "is what you are in the dark." We must use our seclusion properly. Our flesh is sure to be present when we are alone. God will be there, too. So you see, the benefit we gain by drawing aside to be alone with God for a time will depend on how we use this time.

One of the ways of growing in the knowledge of our Lord is by Bible reading and study. We can, I am sure, do this best when alone; for we can, if we choose, combine prayer with reading of the Book. Moreover, it is possible to see our faults best when alone, when there are no friends or foes there to interfere with our judgments.

Growth in grace requires much prayer, and solitude is often essential to prayer in its most effective form. Jesus recommended drawing aside into one's "closet" to pray, knowing that God will openly reward all who come to Him in heartfelt, secret prayer. It is difficult, I know, to find time in these busy days to be alone. Nevertheless, it pays to be alone with God. Alone with God! What a blessed place! Sweet refuge, where the heart can unfold itself. Alone, alone with God!