I
N THE BEGINNING God created the the absence of people. Sometimes a nection with a mission and vision that is
heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). crowd is the loneliest of places. Loneli- relevant, but it will also give you a sense
God created light, and there was day ness is not dependent on the number of of identity. During the membership
and night, and God declared that it people with whom we may be in the process, you will have opportunities to
was good. God gathered the water togeth- same room or same place, but rather on discover your spiritual gifts and ways to
er so that the dry land appeared, and He our relationship to those people. connect with others.
declared it was good. God created stars, Some people are driven by loneliness Second, start investigating the many
sun, and moon, and that too was good. to do things they would not otherwise opportunities through Sunday school,
God created fish, birds, animals; that too do: to drink compulsively, to eat compul- prayer groups, and other small groups
was good. Then God made man . . . and sively, to work compulsively. Some peo- that are a part of your church. Try more
it was “not good. . . .” ple do nothing. They have simply learned than one in order to find the one you can
Does it seem strange to you that God to accept loneliness as a way of life. best identify with. Those who are a part
made man in His own image, and yet A 1990 Gallup poll published in the of these groups can attest to the life-
God declared it was not good? Why Boston Globe stated that 36 percent of enhancing relationships formed there.
would He say that? Genesis 2:18 explains: Americans are lonely. This is the reason Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consid-
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for for the explosive growth of MySpace.com, er how we may spur one another on
the man to be alone’” (NIV). God created which has 55 million subscribers. toward love and good deeds. Let us not
us to have relationships, both with Him InJesus.com, the largest online Christian give up meeting together, as some are in
and with each other. We were not placed community, has over 2 million sub- the habit of doing, but let us encourage
on this earth to be alone, but many times scribers. People are looking for relation- one another—and all the more as you see
this is exactly how we feel. ships wherever they can find them. We the Day approaching” (NIV).
Loneliness has been described as the all have a need and a desire to belong. You are important, and we need each
painful awareness that we lack meaning- I encourage you to take a couple of other! Don’t ever believe the lie of the
ful contact with others. It has also been very important steps in your journey devil that says nobody cares. We care and,
explained as the feeling that no one real- toward being an active participant in the most important of all, God cares!
ly cares about us individually as a per- community of Christ.
son—“If I suddenly disappeared, there First, give serious consideration to Kirk O. Walters serves as pastor of missions
would be no search party because no one becoming a part of the Church of God and discipleship at Mount Paran North
would care enough to put one together.” through membership. This process of Church of God in Marietta, Georgia, and is
Loneliness does not come because of membership will not only begin a con- an ordained bishop in the Church of God.
EVANGEL • MAR 2008 15
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