The dangers of living in isolation

October 13, 2010

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

In the South Pacific, there are literally tens of thousands of tiny islands. So after World War II, it took some time for the news of the war's end to spread. But for one man, it took 29 years!

Hiroo Onoda was a soldier in the Japanese army. He was given a strict order to hide on one of the small islands and carry out guerilla warfare for the remainder of the war. But he had done such a good job at hiding that the surrendered Japanese army couldn't find him when the war was over. So they declared him to be dead!

In 1974, Onoda was found with his tattered uniform, still-working rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, and a few hand grenades. He wept aloud when he found out the war was over.

Isolation is a scary thing. But how many Christians live in a state of isolation today and don't even know it? The Scripture commands you and me to live in community. This is so crucial because just like Hiroo Onoda was stuck in a state of factual ignorance, you can very easily become stuck in a state of spiritual ignorance.

So who is your community? Who are some people in your life that encourage you and stir you up to love and good works? It's my prayer that you would find someone like that in your life.

FIND AN ENCOURAGER IN YOUR LIFE AND ALLOW THEM TO SHARPEN YOU CONSISTENTLY.


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Straight Up

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