“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” Proverbs 18:1
Going it alone. The rugged individual striking out across the plains. The lone knight on a quest. The self-made man. We are fed a steady diet of such tripe through the movies we watch and stories we read. The reality is this: the harder the task, the greater the undertaking, the more the danger, the more we need one another. Lone pioneers die alone. The dragon eats the lone knight, and many people contribute to a person’s success.
The greatest fight we are in is the fight against sin and evil. Satan seeks our destruction and one of his greatest tools is making us think we can “go it alone.” All you need is faith in Jesus (whatever that means to you), or just say you believe in God (again, whatever that means to you). This is why many believe an active church life is superfluous - unnecessary. They will make any excuse not to be part of a church family. They are isolated in the midst of other isolated people.
Satan has them right where he wants them and they don’t even know it. They are like that lone knight riding blindly through the forest. He thinks he is safe because his armor protects him - all the while the dragon is watching and waiting.
Prayer: Lord God, your triune nature shows us that we are not called to “go it alone,” but rather be in relationship with you and with one another. I pray for those who have isolated themselves from you and from the Body of Christ, who have done so through deception, arrogance, and a loss of true faith. Help me O Lord, to remain faithful to you, to seek your company and the company of your faithful, to be strengthened and defended by your Word and Sacrament. Amen.