ISOLATION
It is one of our great difficulties at the present moment
- indeed it has ever been a difficulty - to combine a narrow path with a wide
heart. There is very much on all sides tending to produce isolation. We cannot
deny it. Links of human friendship seem so fragile; so many things crop up to
shake confidence; so many things which one cannot possibly sanction, that the
path becomes more and more isolated.
All this is unquestionably true.
But we must be very careful as to how we meet this condition of things. We have
little idea how much depends on the spirit in which we carry ourselves in the
midst of scenes and circumstances which, all must admit, are uniquely trying.
For example, I may retreat in upon myself and become bitter, gloomy,
severe, repulsive, withered up, having no heart for the Lord's people, for His
service, for the holy and happy exercises of the assembly. I may become barren
of good works, having no sympathy with the poor, the sick, the sorrowful. I may
live in the narrow circle in which I have withdrawn, thinking only of myself
and my personal and family interests.
What can be more miserable than
this? It is the most deplorable selfishness, but we do not see it because we
are blinded by our inordinate occupation with other people's failures.
Now it is a very easy matter to find flaws and faults in our brethren and
friends. But the question is, How are we to meet these things? Is it by
retreating in upon ourselves? Never! To do this is to render ourselves as
miserable in ourselves as we are worthless, and worse than worthless, to
others. There are few things more pitiable than what we call "a disappointed
man." He is always finding fault with others. He has never discovered the real
root of the matter or the true secret of dealing with it. He has retired, but
within himself He is isolated, but his isolation is utterly false. He is
miserable; and he will make all who come under his influence - all who are weak
and foolish enough to listen to him - as miserable as himself. He has
completely broken down in his practical career; he has succumbed to the
difficulties of his time and proved himself wholly unequal to meet the stem
realities of actual life. Then, instead of seeing and confessing this, he
retires into his own narrow circle and finds fault with everyone except
himself.
How truly delightful and refreshing to turn from this dismal
picture to the only perfect Man who ever trod this earth! His path was indeed
an isolated one - none more so. He had no sympathy with the scene around Him.
"The world knew Him not." "He came unto His own (Israel), and His own received
Him not." "He looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for
comforters, but He found none." Even His own beloved disciples failed to
sympathize with, or understand Him. They slept on the mount of transfiguration
in the presence of His glory and they slept in the garden of Gethsemane in the
presence of His agony. They roused Him out of His sleep with their unbelieving
fears and were continually intruding upon Him with their ignorant questions and
foolish notions.
How did He meet all this? In perfect grace, patience
and tenderness. He answered their questions; He corrected their notions; He
hushed their fears; He solved their difficulties; He met their need; He made
allowance for their infirmities; He gave them credit for devotedness in the
moment of desertion; He looked at them through His own loving eyes and loved
them, notwithstanding all. "Having loved His own which were in the world, He
loved them unto the end."
Christian reader, let us seek to drink into
our blessed Master's spirit and walk in His footsteps. Then our isolation will
be of the right kind, and though our path may be narrow, the heart will be
large.