02/25/2021
As many churches meet remotely due to COVID-19 we are tempted by Zoom meetings to continue coming together in this way, but as we walk the path of our faith we often find ourselves confronted by temptation and evil along the way, and facing these challenges alone is a frightening prospect. We are at our weakest when by ourselves, and that is precisely why Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness; he felt his best chance to overcome Him was while He was wandering by Himself, but in reality Jesus was never alone, and neither are we... God is with us always.
“And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV
Whenever we are spiritually tempted, or facing some physical danger, we should always lean on God. Our first course of action in any situation should be to call out to Him in prayer, and remember His Word. In this way we can stand firm in our faith by winding ourselves about Him to form a twofold cord, and by being bound together in this way we find ourselves stronger than we ever thought possible. This reality is spoken of many times in scripture, and God Himself reassures us of the effectiveness of turning to Him...
“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
So we find ourselves able to stand against sin and temptation coupled with God, but our opening scripture tells us that there is more... if we weave ourselves as a three strand cord, we become even stronger yet, and can do more than withstand an assault, we are more likely to remain unbroken in the process.
Two strands of steel cable are strong, and can hold up a great deal of weight, but when the wind begins to twist and turn that load it places a strain on the supporting strands, and frays them until at last one snaps, causing the union to fail, and the load to fall. We are the weaker strand, and over time we are inclined to break. It is for this reason that scripture encourages us to join with a third cord, Jesus, to form a braided cord that will not only withstand, but conquer sin by strengthening us in Christ. Paul speaks of Jesus this way...
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13 ESV
But is three enough? Human engineers have learned from this truth, and employed this strategy in modern construction. A good example is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. This bridge is held up by what looks like two large cables that are each over three feet thick, but there is more here than meets the eye, each of these large cables is actually comprised of 27,572 individual strands of steel. Together their strength is more than enough to not only hold the weight of the bridge, but to withstand the wind that blows against it, and the earthquakes that shake it. Together as Christians we are like these mighty cables, and are meant to strengthen one another’s faith...
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
So when we are alone we are at our weakest, joined as two with God we hear His Word clearly, and stand against sin, together with Christ as our third cord we can conquer that sin by grace, and joined together with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ we are truly able to withstand the greatest winds and shaking that Satan can bring against us. In this way we are not meant to be alone, and the more we come together the stronger we become. Gathering remotely in images and transmitted voice, was a very good way to temporarily confront COVID-19 as we withstood its initial onslaught, but this is not how we are meant to draw strength from one another in the long term. Images are like paintings and photographs... they can never replace the real feel of flesh or the comfort of an embrace. Likewise, transmitted voices lose the intimacy that the feel of breath brings to a warm whisper of encouragement in our ear. So now as the pandemic we have been facing is subsiding it is time to come back together, and recapture the fullness of strength we realize from our joining.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with us always, and for the strength your presence brings us. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who abides in us, and whose presence strengthens us further in you, and your Holy Spirit that you breathed upon us to give us to provide understanding and remembrance of your Word. We further thank you for all our brothers and sisters in faith who strengthen us in their thousands, millions, and beyond, as we stand firm together in our faith against Satan and his dark legions of sin. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who holds us in your hands and shields and strengthens us with the vast multitude of those who believe in you, and now encourage us. Praised be your name for your constant presence and the amazing grace with which you sent Jesus, and are now sending daily all those we are intertwined with us in unyielding faith. Merciful and full of grace are you Father, for you have made provision for our weakness by binding us together. Hear our prayers as we confront adversity in our faith, and let your Word, and the redemption of Christ mold us together to become your family... each of us made perfect through Jesus, and brought to your table where we join in our worship and praise of you forevermore.
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”
Romans 1:11-12 ESV
Rich Forbes