God created human beings for fellowship. Yet various influences often threaten to undermine it. District Apostle David Heynes (Northern and Eastern Germany) explains how we can maintain our closeness to God.
As I was travelling through a busy airport terminal, I noticed a small child crying and frightened because she had become separated from her family. Thankfully, in the very next moment, she spotted her mother, and it was a joy to witness how she immediately ran into her mother’s arms to be reunited and to feel safe and secure once again. I am sure many of us have either witnessed or personally experienced a similar moment of panic and fear where we have become separated from a loved one. This simple everyday example demonstrates the fear and uncertainty that can arise from separation.
In Genesis we read, “It is not good for man to be alone,” and we understand from this that we are created to live in fellowship with God and one another. It is this powerful force of God’s love that continually seeks to draw us to Him.
Our Chief Apostle Mutschler has mentioned on a few occasions that heaven is about relationships, and by having a close relationship with God and with one another we can feel secure and at peace. It is when we lose this closeness that we often experience feelings of uncertainty and fear, and it should therefore be important to us to constantly work on developing our relationships while at the same time being alert to that which seeks to undermine them.
Jesus, for example, remained alert when He was tempted in the desert by questions intended to create separation in His relationship with the Father. In the same way, we too must remain watchful against influences that seek to weaken our trust in God’s love for us.
Another danger is a focus on the differences rather than the commonalities to one another. We are all created individually with different personalities, backgrounds, and cultures. The evil one tries to use these differences to create division, intolerance, and misunderstanding. If we are not alert, this can develop into fear or rejection of those who are in some way different from us.
A further risk is an over-focus on materialism and personal wealth. If we are not watchful, then this could lead to becoming self-centred even at the expense of the needs of others.
The Lord Jesus is described as wanting to gather the people of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. This clearly shows the godly will to provide, care, and protect humankind. Many reject this offer, but as a child of God we should have the natural instinct to run into His arms when we sense the danger of being separated from Him. We can do this in a very practical way by coming into His presence in the divine services, accepting His word, His forgiveness, and His blessing.
The Lord Jesus has a fervent desire to celebrate Holy Communion with us and invites us to share in this fellowship with Him. The Holy Spirit, when given room in our hearts, guides our thoughts and actions according to God’s will, and we should listen carefully to its promptings. Finally, we take time to converse with God in prayer, opening our hearts to Him and allowing His peace to fill our souls.
When we do this for ourselves, then we can support and encourage others by testifying of God’s love so that they can also experience the comfort, peace, and security that comes from being safe in the arms of Jesus.
Photo: Nord- und Ostdeutschland