ALONE AND NO PLACE TO GO
I have stopped many times while traveling along a highway to talk with a lonely traveler; all his possessions in a sack, in need of a bath, and a good hot meal. The sad state of the endless search of man with no place to go — running from nowhere and going nowhere. I have seen the squint of the eyes, the forced smile and in too many cases the shadow of brokenness and failure. However, when kindness is shown and material given (even though hesitating to talk) a bond is formed between two human beings. What little we give of ourselves for the souls of men.
There is something in the figure of a lonely traveler that speaks to my heart. I remember when a boy I dreamed of adventure on distant shores escaping from dangers while alone and no place to go. As I grew older there were many places and many people, time and space, success and failure, tears and laughter; but deep down inside of me, there was a loneliness and a hopelessness that I could not answer to. I was alone with no place to go — filling my days with trivial thoughts, meaningless activities and empty, hollow goals; but still alone and no place to go. [easingslider id=”485″]
This is the soul of man without Christ. Sin has made man a lonely traveler away from God, and the road of sin has no horizon. It just gets longer and longer until sin brings forth death, and then the traveler stops. Then the sad reality of an eternity alone and cut off from God. It is not God who has made a lonely traveler, but man himself. Man was given a home in the garden of Eden, but because man sinned against God, man was expelled and became a wanderer with the penalty of death upon him. The cause of all man’s problems and loneliness is sin. One cannot fill a void that has been created by the absence of God unless one fills the void with very God Himself.
In the case of Cain and Abel, man became a murderer and was sentenced to become a vagabond — alone with no place to go. Man deceives, divides, and commits all forms of cruelty not only against his fellow man, but against himself. He is forever running; but where is he running to and who is he running from?
Throughout the Old Testament and even secular history, we have witnessed the conflicts of man, nations and society — the endless struggle to establish himself once and for all! However, as soon as man establishes his kingdoms, they begin to crumble under his feet, and he sets forth again to conquer and to build. The entire human race, as a whole, are lonely travelers. Throughout history, we have seen the restlessness of societies, the endless struggles to surpass the previous generations — truly we see the soul of man afloat on the tumultuous ocean of sin, with no place to go. Then from God a voice declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” ( John 14:6)
These words spoken by God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,, finally gives man a resting place for his soul. Christ spoke these words in reference to Himself, that He only is the way — the way of truth — the way of life, and the only way to heaven. Christ is the answer for the lonely traveler. He has gone to prepare a place where the tired traveler might find rest in Him. Although the Christian is a pilgrim in the world, his heart and soul is fastened to a place that will never move, and that place is the very heart of God. There will be no lonely highways, no empty rooms, and no dark corners of loneliness for those who will put their trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ asks you to come and be a partaker of His riches and His glory.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28, 29)
Only the Lord Jesus Christ can fill the loneliness with the presence of Himself. You might be wandering down the highway, but you are on a road that will lead to destruction and hell without Christ.
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
© Copyright 2015, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV).