March 16, 2016
Cables fascinate me. Single strands of string or wire that are easily broken become powerful when united into a cable. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says: “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Multiples connected together increase strength.
While some people do not like crowds, most of us do not like to be all alone. When I hear of earthquake disasters and stories of the rescue of someone who has been trapped for days, I wonder how I would handle that time all alone. I think panic could easily set in. But if two or three people were trapped together, there would be comfort and perspective. Simply being with another person makes a difference.
Sometimes we feel that peer pressure causes us to make decisions that we might not have made if all alone. And if those peers are not a wholesome influence, that is probably true. But when other people who think correctly are with us, we are more likely to make good decisions.
The night of Jesus’ trial found Peter isolated from John, who stayed closer to Jesus while Peter hung back. I wonder if he would have responded differently with John by his side. Peter isolated himself from fellow believers and found himself surrounded by many people but all alone in his convictions. And he failed.
Jesus warned His followers multiple times that He was leaving but that He would return. In John 14:18, He promised: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” On the third day after His crucifixion, He did return to them. A few weeks later He left, promising to send His Presence in the Person of the Holy Spirit, and said, “I will come again.”
It has been a lot of years since Jesus left. Individuals who believe He will come back find it easier when united with others of like confidence. Jesus established His church, made up of all of His followers. And when we stay connected with two or three or more, we find strength to be faithful to Him. All alone we are like a single strand of string or wire, but united we are a strong cable not to be broken. We do not need to fear being alone. Jesus is always with us.
Pastor Bill Ehmann