Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
October 16, 2002 Randall Caselman
Where No One Stands Alone
AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS NOT GOOD THAT MAN SHOULD BE ALONE. (GEN. 2.18)
God created us for relationships. We seem to think that God created us for things: bigger houses, finer cars, higher education, better jobs, more pleasure. No! Relationships: right relationship with Him, with the church, with family and friends. Genuine happiness is not a new dress, a bass boat or a Masters Degree, but right relationships.
The Greek is Koinonia. It means a participation together, a partnership, companionship, togetherness, one anotherness. Koinonia appears 20 times in the Greek New Testament. It is translated 12 times fellowship, 4 times communion, once contribution and twice communication. Koinonia always carries with it the sense of togetherness.
Togetherness is what the CHURCH is all about. A place where we are forgiven, understood, accepted and protected…
- If this is not a place where tears can be understood, where can I cry?
- If this is not a place where questions can be asked, where can I learn?
- If this is not a place where my feeling can be heard, where can I speak?
- If this is not a place where you'll accept me, where can I go to be me?
- If this is not a place where I can try and fail, where can I go to grow?
Indeed! Indeed, the CHURCH is for relationships, intimate, close togetherness. The church family gives us a place to stand where no one stands alone.
IT IS A PLACE OF FORGIVENESS. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 8.1) Believe it, accept it, live it, Rejoice in truth.
IT IS A PLACE OF STRENGTH. "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape." (I Cor. 10.13) The church is a place where the power of God continues to work on our behalf.
A PLACE OF HEALING. "Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight the paths for your feet, so that the limb that was lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed." (Heb. 12.12-13) That's what I need. A brother or sister to pick me up when I am down. Elders to lovingly discipline when I go astray. Thank God for fellowship!
A PLACE OF PRAYER. "Is any one of you in trouble, is any one happy, is any one of you sick. Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other. The prayer of the righteous is both powerful and effective." (James 5.13-16) What a promise!
A PLACE OF LOVE. "Let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loves his brother knows God and is born of God. If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. If we love one another, God dwells in us." (I John 4.7 & 11-12) Hate is of the world. Love is of God. Hate is in the world -- Love is in the church.
He was a drunk, a bum, lonely, homeless, with no place for togetherness. He was found bleeding and admitted to Bellevue Hospital semiconscious. He lasted three days. Listed at the morgue as unknown. However in his pocket was a piece of paper with the lyrics,
Dear Hearts and Gentle People. Why would an unknown, forgotten, drunk be carrying around a line of lyric? Perhaps he still believed that someone, somewhere would care enough to come to his rescue, bring him back, forgive him, strengthen him, heal him, pray for him, love him. You see, before his death at Bellevue he made the world sing. Sing songs like
Oh, Susanna, Beautiful Dreamer, Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair, Old Folks At Home, My Old Kentucky Home and over 200 other great American songs. But for Stephen Foster there was no one who cared. No one who loved. There was no fellowship -- No church. No place to stand.
Once I stood in the night
With my head bowed low,
In the darkness as black as could be;
And my heart felt alone and I cried,
O' Lord, don't hide your face from me.
Like a king I may live in a palace so tall,
With great riches to call my own;
But I don't know a thing in the whole wide world
That's worse than being alone.
Hold my hand all the way,
Every hour, every day
From here to the great unknown.
Take my hand; let me stand,
Where no one stands alone.
Amen? Amen!!
Randall Caselman
