Better That I Go

A few weeks ago, I had a really lonely week. All the people that I normally hang out with from time to time, or talk to on the phone, were either out of town or busy. One day I wouldn't have seen anyone if I hadn't gone to the local store! That is what you call alone, and I was indeed lonely.

I am a bit wiser than I was a few years ago, however, and I took my loneliness to the Lord, and spent an extraordinary amount of time with Him. And, not surprisingly, He did some extraordinary things in my heart. He spoke to me and gave me faith concerning some things that I'd previously been doubtful. I felt very secure and very close to Him. I was focused and I was peaceful, and in spite of being rather lonely, I was, in fact, happy.

And then everyone came back or wasn't so busy anymore. That's not such a bad thing-God did not create His people to be isolated. He was the one who said it wasn't good for man to be alone in the first place! Unfortunately, no matter how wonderful the people around you are, and no matter how godly, it seems inevitable that you get into a bit of gossip in conversations, and wind up being distracted from the most important things in your life. I like having people at hand, but now I find myself wishing for the same intimacy with God that I had during the week when everyone was gone!

So this morning it flew through my brain that sometimes we don't give as much credence to some of the things Jesus said as we claim we do. For instance, Jesus said, "It is better for you that I go." And we spend all our time wishing he would come back. If only he would come back, then all our troubles would be solved. But he said, "It is better for you that I go." I realize this is only my opinion, but my opinion is that what Jesus really meant was, WE ARE BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIM.

Gasp! Horror! How could that be?

If Jesus was here, walking beside you, how likely would you be to sit quietly in your bedroom-without him-and talk to the Father yourself? Be honest with yourself, now. You know just as well as I do that you would never do it. So now let me add to your horror. There is a power for life and living that comes only from the Father-you wouldn't get it from Jesus. (Where do you think Jesus got his power? Why do you suppose he went off by himself to pray so often??)

Jesus knew that if he had stayed, his disciples would never have accessed God's power themselves; they'd have spent the rest of their lives looking to him. He was speaking the truth when he said, "It is better for you that I go."

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