Isolation

We’re living in very strange circumstances. At present, our freedom of movement has been restricted, so that we can only head out of our homes if we’re working in essential jobs, seeking medical care, helping the vulnerable, and getting one form of exercise. We’re approaching the second Sunday of not meeting together in the church building. We’re not used to such restrictions, applied so widely and so stringently. And yet they are desperately needed, as we seek to slow the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.

When we consider the New Testament, we find lots of examples of physical distance and isolation. The early church, and especially the apostles, didn’t have the benefits of Facebook Live, or YouTube, or WhatsApp, Zoom and so many more technological solutions. Their technology was more basic, but was put to good use in combatting isolation.

John, in two of his three letters, says something similar: ‘I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.’ (2 John 1:12 cf 3 John 1:13-14) He has much to say, but longs for the day when he’ll see his recipients face to face to talk with them.

He was also familiar with imposed isolation, having been exiled on the island of Patmos ‘because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.’ (Rev 1:9). Even though he was exiled and far from his Christian brothers and sisters, he was ‘in the Spirit’ (Rev 1:10) and was joined by the Lord Jesus in all his glory. John’s isolation was used by God to produce the book of Revelation, a great encouragement to suffering Christians.

Peter addresses his first letter to ‘God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.’ Yet these scattered strangers ‘have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.’ (1 Peter 1:1-2) While they may seem small and insignificant in the world’s eyes, they are known and dearly loved by the Trinity.

The writer to the Hebrews encourages his readers to ‘Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ (Heb 10:25) Some had obviously stopped coming together with other believers, not rating it high in their priorities. We’re looking forward to being able to meet together again when it’s safe to do so. Are there ways that we can encourage one another while we wait?

The author then demonstrates his own commitment to meeting together in the closing verses: ‘I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.’ (Heb 13:23) People in three distinct locations, all looking forward to the day when they can meet again in one place - Timothy, the author, and the Hebrew Christians.

Perhaps the best examples of physical distance and isolation come from the pen of the apostle Paul. Having written so many letters to so many different churches and individuals, we get a glimpse of the experiences he endured as he served the Lord.

One of his earliest letters was to the church in Thessalonica. He had been in the city, proclaiming the gospel, and had to make a quick exit when a riot began. From there, he had travelled on to Berea and then Athens, from where he wrote 1 Thessalonians. Here’s how he describes his isolation:

‘But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you - certainly I, Paul, did, again and again - but Satan stopped us... So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow-worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.’ (1 Thes 2:17-18, 3:1-3)

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians after planting the church there. His letter to the Roman Christians was different, in that he hadn’t been there before. And yet he couldn’t wait to come and see them. ‘I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.’ (Rom 1:11-12) It wasn’t that Paul, the apostle, would encourage these other believers. No, everyone would be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith as they met together.

Paul spent some time in prison, cooped up in a cell. Compared to Her Majesty’s establishments, his prison would have been ghastly. His apostolic ministry of preaching and planting churches had been stopped. His friends may have despaired. And yet even that time of confinement was a time of flourishing, productive ministry. His prison epistles were written at that time - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon - and they continue to speak of the encouragements Paul found even in prison.

As he reminds the Christians in Colossae, ‘All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing.’ (Col 1:6) Paul is in chains, but the gospel isn’t bound! Even in confinement, the gospel is advancing: ‘Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.’ (Phil 1:12-13) That letter to Philippians, penned in prison, is the epistle of joy!

Paul’s letters were written because he was at a distance from the Christians he was communicating with. In most of his letters we find lists of names of people he is greeting and others who are sending greetings. Without modern technology, Paul knew these people by name, and was aware of their situations and circumstances, maybe even better than we do today.

In his second letter to Timothy, we hear of Paul’s most painful experience of isolation. ‘At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (2 Tim 4:16-18)

Facing the might of Rome, and the threat of the death sentence, Paul stood alone. Alienated and isolated, but not totally abandoned. The Lord stood at his side and gave him strength. In these days of isolation, we are never truly alone, even if there’s no one else in the house with us. The Lord is always with us, giving us his strength. But the Lord gives us much more - he also gives us hope. No matter what may happen to us, as we trust in Jesus, we have the promise of being brought safely into his heavenly kingdom.

For Paul, that would involve an executioner’s block. Yet the moment the axe fell, the Lord ushered Paul into his heavenly kingdom. For all of eternity, we will not be isolated or alone, because we will be with the Lord and all his people. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to all our feelings of loneliness and isolation.

These next weeks or months may be difficult. It might appear that there’s no end in sight, particularly if you’re on your own. But remember that you’re never alone - we have the fellowship of the church, and the Lord is with you, both now and for ever more.