For the Lonely

In his book Facing Loneliness, J. Oswald Sanders writes, “the round of pleasure or 
the amassing of wealth are but vain attempts to escape from the persistent ache … The millionaire is usually a lonely man and the comedian is often more unhappy than his audience.”  Sanders emphasizes that being successful often fails to produce lasting satisfaction.

The truthfulness of Sanders’ statements have been verified once again with the passing of Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band "Boston", who committed suicide last week in his Atkinson, NH, home.  Police reports released yesterday reported that a note was paper-clipped to the neck of Delp’s shirt when police found his body on the bathroom floor, his head on a pillow.  The note read,

“Mr. Brad Delp.  J’ai une ame solitaire.  I am a lonely soul.”

How could someone so SUCCESSFUL be so LONELY?  Is there a CURE for this “persistent ache” ?

The root of this “persistent ache” reflects the very reason for our being...

You see, God did NOT create a world where He is unnecessary; WE were created to have an intimate relationship with our Creator.  SIN, however, separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:1-2).  And though we may try to fill the VOID with pleasure, wealth, and worldly success, NOTHING this world can offer can completely quench our soul’s thirst.

The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that WE can be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).  Through Jesus our “persistent ache” is healed, and we recognize the meaning to life and the key to eternal life.

To be reconciled to God, one must: believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  Then, Jesus has promised that if we will continue to follow Him faithfully, that He will be with us and we will live with Him eternally. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Jesus DIED for the lonely – for ALL of those who have been separated from God due to sin (and that includes ALL of us!).  He endured the cruel loneliness of the cross so that WE might be united with God – forever!

Won’t YOU respond in trusting obedience?

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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