Our society implicitly suggests we, as Americans, go forge the road ahead of us alone in nomadic and independent fashion. As a result, we grit our teeth, clench our fists and start our journey alone, traveling the road less taken because it is our American right of passage. But we find in the midst of this tumultuous journey of ours, whether it’s intellectual, physical or spiritual, there is something we just can’t grasp: why do we go about it alone? I’ve gone twenty-some odd years journeying alone and found the journey manageable. However, the victories are not that sweet and the defeats are more bitter than advertised. I’m sure most of you reading realize this. The problem with forging your own is not the adversity, it is the loneliness! There is no shared moments of victory. Likewise, there is a lack of comfort in suffering.
“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet” (Amos 3:3 ESV) Here’s a bit of wisdom from a prophet: you can’t journey with others if you’re not planning on journeying with them! That’s just our problem too, we’d rather be gunslingers on our own and we want to celebrate and sulk with others but only when we want to and when it’s convenient for us. But it’s very clear– if you’re not on the same page, then you won’t be going with anybody. This much is understandably simple to understand. Our real problem is walking with God, who is invisible and seemingly careless of what happens in the world. I mean, how can we really commit to walking with God if He never really talks to us about meeting somewhere and journeying together? That is the argument we make anyways. In this passage God accuses Israel of making an agreement with Him to go somewhere with Him, in fidelity, and then ditching Him without turning back. God could make the same accusation against us, can’t He? He could make this accusation on us every single day. He waits for us at the cross of Jesus, to go with us to the place we were created for; but we’re too busy, too preoccupied, too self-righteous to even walk with God, who is the epitome of everything good and beautiful in the world. When we became Christian, if we made that choice, we agreed to meet God at the cross of Jesus, to go with Him, as we are, to where He always wanted us. It was an opportunity to share life with somebody who cares more than we ever would know. Then we neglect our responsibility in meeting with Him where we agreed and struggle through victories alone and wallow in our defeats by ourselves. It doesn’t have to be this way. I want us to remember that every new day is a new journey where we constantly have the opportunity to come back and meet with God to walk with Him, starting at the cross of His Son, Jesus, and take life together. We don’t have to be perfect. Nor do we have to be put together. All we have to do is go to the agreed meeting place and set our hearts on going with God. Nothing more is expected and nothing less is required. This is the friendship we are offered. It would behoove us not to embrace it fully and walk with somebody offering us opportunity in our vulnerability. Jesus is that somebody, and he is offering a fulfilling journey of power and mercy if you would meet with him and not forget to journey together. It’s time to go and keep your end of the agreement.
