Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Stop following the crowd

Following up on my last post, I am struck by how Abraham had to go it alone. This is in contrast to the crowd mentality seen in the builders of the Tower.

It isn't easy to stand alone in alone in one's belief's, but the fact is if we are going to follow God and his truth, we will most likely find ourselves not joining the crowd.

There is something comforting about going along with what others are saying or doing. Like the builders of the Tower, we find security in our joint efforts. It often appears that it is the majority that gets things done, and that life would be better for us when we commit ourselves to their agenda. But is that really true.

Perhaps Abraham learned his lesson from Noah, who alone in all the world remained faithful to God. In the end only he survived. Abraham understood that the crowd's view of life was no indicator of what was right, good, or lasting.

Actually it is not just the fact that the crowd is doing this or that which makes their actions right or wrong. It all has to do with God's truth and his ways. What we need to do is learn to hear God, like Abraham and Noah, and live according to his leading instead of taking our cues from those around us. As we walk with God we may find others walking with us. Other times we will be very alone. However many we see around us, we need to stop figuring out life based on what others are doing just because they are doing it.

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