No Greater Companion
There is a lot of pain in this world: death of a loved one, war, disease, hunger, corruption, the list goes on and on. But some of the greatest pain one can endure is loneliness. It is an ache that cuts to the very core of who we are. Why is that? I believe part of it is because of the questions it brings to our mind. Does anyone see me? Does anyone care about me? Have I pushed people away by something I’ve done? Am I not good enough? Am I not cool enough? On and on and on our minds spin down the vortex of depression and despair. In fact a study done regarding suicidal tendencies lists “low belongingness” (one “characterized by feelings of estrangement from one's own community and/or significant group”) as a motivation.
We’ve all been there, and it doesn’t seem to matter your phase of life. A single person may look to the married person and expect that loneliness would never be a factor. The wife with no children may look to the mom of multiples and expect the same. The new kid in the class may assume that the kid who has been there for awhile feels perfectly content in his social status. The introvert may pass glibly by the extrovert and expect them to not need a friend.
What causes loneliness? I submit that the root of loneliness is a failure to meditate on the greatest truth known to mankind: that God desires to fellowship with us. At a passing glance this truth can be easily taken for granted. But have you ever sat still for any period of time and meditated on the fact that the Creator of the universe desires to spend time with you? Wow! Let’s unpack that amazing reality for a little bit.
As a tickler, I will let you in on a little “secret.” This truth is revealed from cover to cover in God’s precious Word. Could it even be the very reason for which we were created?
We find evidence in Genesis chapters two and three that after God had so intimately designed Adam & Eve, He spent time with them. He instructed Adam as to which trees they could eat from, which was all of them, and He commanded Adam as to which tree they could not eat from, which was one. We then learn that God walked in the Garden in the cool of the day, which could possibly mean the wind of the day. In any regard, it was a sound that Adam and Eve knew well because they immediately associated it with God’s presence. They were very familiar with the fellowship of God.
Fellowship with God is foundational to all humanity.
Continuing on through the Bible, we find very clearly in the book of Exodus that God desired to commune with His people. Moses heard the voice of God at the burning bush. Then through mighty act after mighty act God delivered the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. He led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. After miraculously parting the Red see for them to cross, feeding them with manna and quail, giving them water from a rock, helping them defeat their enemies, showing them His powerful glory on Mt. Sinai, giving them Laws to live by, and promising them a home, He commanded Moses to take up an offering from the people for the exact purpose of “dwelling in their midst” (Ex. 25:1-8).
Fellowship with mankind is God’s desire.
Fast forward now. The “glory” of Israel has come and gone. Past is the time of the Israelites claiming the Promised Land. In fact, turning their backs on God alone as their Sovereign Ruler, they begged for a king. God then did what could only be characterized in this instance as their greatest punishment: He gave them exactly what they wanted, a king. King after king came and went, and with them the eyes of the Israelites continued to lust after pagan idols.
Eventually, the Lord led a prophet named Isaiah to represent Him to the Israelites. He warned them to repent of their idolatry and to return to the One true God. By Isaiah chapter 7, Israel is divided and at the brink of civil war. King Ahaz of Judah and his people were terrified. What hope did God give them through the prophet Isaiah? His name. And it was not just any name.
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Is. 7:14)
It was the name “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” What was Judah’s hope? Fellowship with God! In fact, nearly eight hundred years later God fulfilled this promise.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in thee is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matt. 1:18-23)
Jesus was the exact fulfillment of the promise to King Ahaz. He came to this earth so that he could dwell with us!
Fellowship with God was promised by God and fulfilled in Jesus.
What a blessed pattern is being unfolded: at creation, with the Israelites in the wilderness, with kings, with the virgin…
What then did Jesus (Immanuel) go on to do? The Gospels so beautifully chronicle His life for us. He lived sacrificially amongst those whom He created, feeding them, healing them, and teaching them about His kingdom to come. He died for them, rose again, and then did something that may seem contrary to the theme of dwelling with us—He left—ascended to the right hand of the Father.
But before He did that, He made a promise. The disciples were troubled (Jn. 14:1) because Jesus had told them that He was leaving and that they could not go with Him. His comfort to them was this:
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (Jn. 14:16-18)
How did Jesus comfort these despairing disciples? With the same phrase that has ruled this very article: “He dwelleth with you!” According to verse 17, He would not only dwell with them, but also in them. You can get no closer than that!
God’s fellowship is intimately close to the believer.
Our final look at God’s desire to fellowship with mankind can be found in the final book of Scripture:
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:1-4)
Believer, we will one day dwell with God for all eternity. The striving will be over. The joy and peace will be infinite. God’s desire will be fulfilled.
Our sin may have begun the separation from Him, but He moved heaven to earth to restore the fellowship with the promise that one day, that fellowship will never end.
Fellowship with no one on this planet can satisfy like fellowship with the One who created us. What is so beautiful is the fact that He longs to dwell with us. Oh, may our hearts be stirred to praise Him for that blessed hope!!
Paula Ehmann was born in Georgia to a ministry couple. She went to Bible college to study Elementary Education and Biblical Counseling. After getting married she and her husband ministered for nearly a decade at churches in Nevada and Idaho. From there the Lord led them to North Carolina to minister to churches around the world through the organization Positive Action for Christ. During that time Paula served as the Children’s Ministry Director of her church. She also directed a homeschool co-op that served families in her community. After a decade of serving in North Carolina, the Lord led her and her husband back to the West to minister to their parents. Paula’s passion is counseling, teaching, and discipling children, teens, and women. She homeschools her children, teaches Sunday School, and speaks whenever the Lord gives opportunity. She has four children who, along with her husband, are the loves of her life.
