Aspects of Loneliness
Loneliness (Introduction) - Hebrews Chapter 13, Verses 5 - 6
In this series we are looking at the problem of loneliness that we all face from time to time. In our last talk we saw how it brings many other problems with it, but we saw that there is a solution, for God has promised never to leave His children, nor to forsake them. This time we are thinking of the loneliness of witnessing for Christ in a world that has little time for Him, and is often not prepared to hear our message.
There is one Old Testament character whose witness was both long and strong, but who must have known great loneliness as he met with considerable opposition. The story of Noah is found in chapters 6 to 8 of Genesis, and makes very interesting reading. Briefly, God was grieved as he saw man's wickedness and His heart was filled with pain. His righteousness demanded punishment and He decided that the total flooding of the earth was the only penalty for such world-wide sin. This should cause us to pause for a moment and consider how God feels today, as He sees international sin and corruption which must surely be just as bad as in Noah's day. Thankfully, in His mercy, God has not judged the earth again, although we should never forget that a final judgement day is coming, and the Bible makes it very clear that it will be a terrible time for all those who do not know Christ as their Saviour.
We will look at this story under three simple headings, Walking with God, Witnessing to the World and Worshipping the LORD.
Walking with God - Genesis 6 verse 9 tells us that "Noah was a righteous man...and he walked with God." 17. That is a wonderful testimony to have. His friends and his family would all know that he walked with God, that he only did those things that would please His Lord and that he lived a life of obedience to God. This should be a great challenge to those of us who claim to be Christians. The great example of our Lord Jesus Christ was that "He only did what pleased the Father", and as we are Followers of Him, that is the kind of life we should be seeking to live.
You may remember that it was also said of Noah's great-grandfather, Enoch, that "he walked with God." As he lived for the first sixty-five years of Noah's life, it is almost certain that his godly witness made a great impression on Noah. This is challenge to those of us who are parents or grandparents as to the kind of example we are setting our young people. Would we be pleased or ashamed if we thought they were following in our steps?
Witnessing to the World: When we walk with God it will be quite natural for us to witness to the world. We will not find it strange or difficult, because we will be talking about the Friend with whom we are spending so much time. Noah's witness, however, took on a very different form to ours. God revealed to Noah that the time was drawing near when He was going to judge the world for its' sin. He also told him that a way of escape had been planned. There would be salvation for all who would avail themselves of it. Noah was given clear and concise instructions about building a large boat, called an Ark, which would then be used as the means of salvation, both for people and animals.
Noah was over 500 years old when he received this command, and although people lived much longer in those days, it was still a good age to commence such an unusual venture, without any previous experience to help him. Noah would not be put off, God had given the instructions and that was good enough for him. It is highly likely that his wife and his family all tried to persuade him that the whole idea was foolish; they were living miles from the sea; just where was he going to sail his ship? Doubtless the people around him would pour ridicule and scorn on such a venture. Noah must have felt very lonely as day after day he built the boat and witnessed to the Living God, as he faithfully carried out His instructions. He would not be put off, and the day came, as Noah knew it would, when God sent His judgement. As Peter writes, in his second letter "God did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness."
There are two further references to Noah in the New Testament, in Hebrews 11 verse 7 we are told "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, built an ark to save his family." In chapter 3 verse 7 of his first letter Peter writes: "God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built...only a few people, eight in all, were saved." It is clear from these three scriptures that Noah was not mythical, but a real man who witnessed for the only true God who had called him personally.
When the Lord Jesus told His followers to "go into all the world and preach the Gospel" He also said "and surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age." If you are feeling lonely and isolated as you witness for your Lord, take heart for He has promised to be with you, and He will never break His word. I am certain that Noah, too, knew the abiding presence of God, and as we follow the story we see him and his little family leave the ark safe and secure.
Next we see him... Worshipping the Lord. When Noah and his family left the ark he built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings. We then have a lovely picture of the Lord expressing pleasure in the worship being offered to Him, and making the wonderful promise that, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
There are probably very few Christians who have witnessed faithfully for their Lord who have not also known the loneliness that comes from taking a stand for him. Perhaps you are the only Christian in your family or circle of friends, or in the area where you live, or work - keep the flag of witness flying for the Lord, confident in the knowledge that the One who has sent you out to witness for Him, is the same One who has promised to be with you always to the very end of the age!