Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or family member? How about a co-worker or classmate? Maybe you’ve felt betrayed by someone you didn’t even know? I’ve been forsaken or betrayed many times in my life.
I took a guitar class when I went to college because I want to learn how to play guitar; I needed the credits and figured it would be an “easy A”. One of my classmates was an amazing, classical guitarist and we became friends. We decided to do a classical guitar duet for our final project; I bought a guitar and grew the fingernails on my picking hand for a few months. We had the duet memorized and it sounded great. Two weeks before the final, however, my friend stopped coming to class. He didn’t show up for the final, so I had to play what was meant to be a duet all by myself. Because he didn’t show up, I didn’t get an A in that class. Not a big deal, but I was forsaken by my friend nonetheless.
A little closer to home, I’ve had friends abandon their faith. They were friends and musicians that I looked up to as Christian brothers. Men I did Bible studies with and borrowed C.S. Lewis books from while we were on tour together. Men who recommended Christian resources and wrote entire worship albums. Men who then completely abandoned their faith. They didn’t abandon me personally, but I sure do feel betrayed when I think about them. It’s incredibly painful.
There have been even more personal and hurtful examples of betrayal that include brothers I’ve walked with for years. Men I’ve been with side-by-side and arm-in-arm. We’ve served our great God together and yet they have abandoned their faith and/or our friendship. These are brothers I’ve prayed to receive Christ with, brothers I’ve baptized, brothers I’ve served with in worship bands, brothers I’ve been in Small Groups and on mission trips with. Brothers I’ve rebuked and been rebuked by. Brothers I’ve prayed with hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Brothers I’ve belly laughed with and secretly wept for.
These brothers have left and forsaken me and others who deeply cared about them and it has been unbelievably painful. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Do you know who that is? His name is Jesus and He loves you! “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
Have you been forsaken or betrayed? Take heart, Christian, because God promises you that He will be with you always, even to the end of the age. He promises that He will never leave you or forsake you. He’s the author and perfector of your faith. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the Day of Christ Jesus. No matter how alone you feel, you are not alone. No matter how hard this season may be for you, God is going to see you through it. What a friend we have in Jesus.
Your brother,
Billy
Posted in A Word from the Pastor