THE LONELINESS OF THE CHRISTIAN

By A.W. Tozer

The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone. The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.

The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens. He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart.

It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." -Revelation 12:11

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Interesting article.. I've read it and understood the context.. Probably because it is true that the Christian life is most often a lonely place... that is if we seek the companionship and understanding of our fellow brethren in the Lord. The thing is, even if we do have friends or close friends as you may say, they don't really go through the everyday experiences you yourself experience. Whether you are in a struggle or battle in the field of Christian living no one really understands the wholeness of what you feel, experience or see. They may have a glimpse of what you're going through when you share your experiences or if they themselves experience somewhat the same circumstance, but in the full context, they can not entirely see everything. Why? there are some factors. One factor is that we are all unique and have different perspectives at the same time we too respond to circumstances differently. Other factors may be of course the environment we are into or the kind of environment we've grown and adapted into. Nevertheless the main root of all reason why we often feel loneliness is simply because of our uniqueness. Understanding that God created us entirely different from others makes us a lonely person. But, if we are to understand it completely, we aren't completely alone. Because there is one Person Who knows entirely who we are and what we're going through. And He is very open when we cling and depend on Him. Of course He is our Creator and as a Christian, our Lord and Savior.

In essence, unbelievers should be feeling this loneliness too... or this probably is what they call emptiness. 'Cause in every human being, there is a whole that needs to be filled in, that only God can fill in. Most likely, there are unbelievers who will not agree on me about this matter. Most often, these are the people who only cling and depend on their knowledge and wisdom, but knowledge which is only limited to what they see, hear, smell, taste and touch.

Anyway, the topic is more centered on the Christian life being a lonely place especially still being on this wretched world. The Bible clearly indicates that this world is governed by the enemy... Satan... Remembering that time when Satan tempted the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness, one of his temptation included was showing Jesus all the kingdoms of this world of which Satan would give it to Jesus, if He bows down and worship satan. Which of course Jesus counter attacked with God's Word saying, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Now knowing that this world we live in is the territory of the enemy and that we Christians are no longer citizens here but of heaven, therefore, we truly are in a daily living of spiritual battles. And lest we are not careful and alert, the enemy can easily pin us down from the victory we are standing for.

One more thing that makes us feel alone is when God reveals things to us personally, even if we share it to others, others seem to never get it. Why? Cause whenever God reveals something to us personally, most often it is for you only and not for others. Unless the revelation was meant to be shared and shown to others.

John 21:18-22 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

At some point or conclusion, our loneliness as a Christian does not indicate a negative aspect of being a Christian but instead an indication that in our Christian life, we ought to continuously call upon the Lord, seek His face and daily walk in the fellowship with Him, for there is nothing more that compares to having a right relationship with God. For we can always know we can never be alone when God is there.

Recent events....

Not much to write now so just going to post some pics or vidoes... check it out! =)


APalan-Guesset Christmas Program held last December 25, 2011. Visited by some Loakan Baptist Church members (adults & young people).



First Sunday Service of 2012 held in Apalan



Videos for the first Sunday Service of 2012 held in Apalan

Travelling towards our destination...


Arrival in Apalan


Doxology for the food..


Going back home.... with a 13-seater van made to seat 24 individuals... Please pray for a bigger vehicle or additional provider of transportation =)....