Nor does any person stand completely alone in this world, for when he passes he brushes, perhaps ever so slightly, upon others, and each is never quite the same thereafter.”
–Louis L’Amour (High Lonesome)
“How can there be harmony between Christ and the devil? What business can a believer have with an unbeliever?”
–2 Corinthians 6:15 (Phillips)
——————————–
“What a fellowship, what a joy divine…” come the words from the pen of E.A. Hoffman. This familiar hymn was always sung when I was a kid at our church whenever we had membership Sunday. Fellowship and joy divine, something that is needed in our lives today. We take for granted fellowship and joy, and so many Christians walk around with the mully-grubs or fret over this and that when instead our souls should be filled with the joy of the Lord.
Now I want you to focus on the next words of the hymn and continue on into the chorus: “Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms…” It is a joy divine when we lean on the arms of Jesus. However, so often in our lives we lean against the wrong person or the wrong thing. As a teacher, back in the day of yore, there were times that I leaned against the chalkboard and you can guess the result. Come to our kitchen when the wife is baking and look at the flour on the side of her clothes. Whatever, and I will add whomever we lean against will leave a residue, a mark. Some of them are easy to wipe or wash off, while others leave a stain, and some mark our lives.
We need to be careful about leaning against something dirty, something wicked, something evil. When we lean against sin we can become polluted by that sin. I remember when I was in the military and was exposed to the foul mouths of some of the guys. It would wear on me, but then a Christian brother would walk by and greet me and it felt as if I was being cleansed. This is the “laver” aspect of the believer (a study for another Echo). Perhaps we get used to the evil that is so prevalent around us. Alistair Begg says (and I am using many of his ideas this morning), “It is all too easy to sin with our eyes and minds, realizing only when it is too late that the sin has left its mark.”
What is our attitude toward sin? Are we too complacent and lean against it? Maybe we compromise and get the stain of sin on us. James tells us to, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (1:21, NKJV) Listen, friend, sin leads to death, that stain can stay on you throughout your life–the mark of sin. “Obedience to the Word prevents death; it protects a believer from sinful behavior that can lead directly or indirectly to physical death.” (NKJV Study Bible) The Word, the Word, the Word, receive “the implanted word.”
Who are you leaning on? There is strength when two believers are together, but when a believer and an unbeliever are together there should be discomfort and discord. As we read in Amos, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (3:3, NLT) We are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14) or as the CEV translates it, “Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same?” Other versions say do not be “teamed together,” while Phillips writes, “do not be linked together.” When people see you, who do they think about: some vile person, some foolish person, or the Lord?
“What are you leaning against? Are there sins that the world around you accepts and promotes but which you need to walk away from?” (Begg) Evil companions, filthiness, habits, jesters, who are you leaning against? Then think of that dear brother or sister who you lean against and gain strength. Study the life of David and Jonathan and see how they worked together, mainly to benefit David. Hearken to the words of Solomon when he writes, “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer [leaning against each other]. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT–brackets mine).
Finally, lean on the Spirit. He will restore you, He will revive you, He will strengthen you. He will leave His mark upon you. Take hold of Him, lean against Him, let Him use the Word of God that is in you to assure you and lead you through each day. The words of that chorus should bring us comfort, “Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.”