Where Have All My Friends Gone?
Alone. Look to the left – no one is there. In front of you, behind you and to your right – no one is there. Where are John, Rick, Chris, Carol, Rebecca and Alisha? Maybe they’re late or detained for legitimate reasons. Slowly you begin to realize, they’re not showing up. “But they’re very busy,” you reason. “They’d be here if they could be. I am sure of that.” But slowly your confidence begins to waver as your aloneness becomes more apparent.
If it’s any consolation, it happens to the best of Christians. Sometimes when you expect your friends to rally around you and to provide moral support – they just aren’t there. It happened to the Apostle Paul.
He had given his life for the sake of the Gospel. Everywhere he went he wrote down new names and faithfully prayed for the people he met. He had seen many of them saved and their lives transformed by the Gospel.
While others went fast asleep at night he so often labored in prayer. When he thought of the trials of others his cheeks were soaked with tears. As you read Paul’s epistles, you can not help but be impressed with his unwavering love and unceasing prayers for so many people in so many places. He had a huge prayer list.
But now the end is near for prisoner Paul. None of his supporters showed up for his big ‘make it or break it’ court appearance. As he walked into the hearing, no one was there to say: “Go Paul! Go!” No one was waving placards that read: “The Christians are praying for you everywhere. Hang in there! The Lord is with you. We’re with you. We love you Paul. Thanks for bringing the Gospel to us!” None of that.
After the hearing, Paul sent a letter to Timothy and here’s how he described the experience:
At my first trial no one acted in my defense [as my advocate]
or took my part or [even] stood with me, but all forsook me.
May it not be charged against them!
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me,
so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it…”
(2Timothy 4:16-17 Amplified)
There were many Christians in
But did Paul stand alone? Absolutely not. The Lord stood right beside him and actively strengthened him – so much so that Paul was able to preach the Gospel during the trial to the Gentile attorneys, paralegals, court stenographers, technical workers and observers – not to mention the judge himself.
The Lord stood by him – invisible to the Gentile audience but very real to the prisoner. “Go, Paul, Go! Give them the Gospel. I am with you; I will not leave you alone!”
The Psalmist lifted up his eyes and asked: “Where does my help come from?” Then swiftly he answered his own question: “My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2. Just in case one might underestimate the significance of the help the Lord gives – the Psalmist added: “who made the heaven and earth.” Quite the credentials!
If ever a fear should arise about the Lord’s ability to support and strengthen us, it should quickly vanish in light of the fact that He made the earth and the heaven.