Companions on the Journey

Women of Faith:
We are all on a journey. A journey that is a direct reflection of the companions we have on the journey with us—be they good or bad—an angel or the devil.

So who are my companions on this journey? And where is my journey going?

Are my companions a reflection of Christ? Are the laws I am following to take the journey God’s laws and will my journey take me to my goal of heaven?

Or do my companions reflect Satan because they find it easier to follow the laws of society? Are they on a journey that is “all about me” and don’t believe in heaven or hell ? Do they deny God’s very existence and live only to seek selfish desires, doing what they want, rather than searching and doing what God wants?

I spent some time this weekend behind the scenes of the Christian Experience Weekend for men (CEW). Even though I was not directly a part of the retreat (for obvious reasons, it was a men’s retreat—the women’s will be next weekend) –indirectly I could feel the change as they became “companions on the journey,” faith companions which support, serve, and nurture each other’s faith journey.

From the very beginning God knew that “it was not good for man to be alone” –so for Adam he created Eve. He invented marriage—between one man and one woman. Even in the beginning he knew sin would create death and if His world was to continue it would take male and female together.

And after Adam and Eve, came Noah who “two by two, male and female came to Noah into the ark” Gen 7:9 so that when the great flood was over they too could repopulate the earth.

And even in the times when Jesus was said to be “alone”--The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. Mk 1: 12-13—He was not really alone for he was tempted by Satan and supported by the angels. Both God and the devil were with Him. Even Christ had to choose his companion for the journey.

Our first and foremost companion is God but we are given the choice to decide if we will allow him to be with us on our journey.

We don’t choose our first earthly companions. Those companions are our parents. None of us could be on earth without two people who have become one. And even those who have a “single” parent were created not by one, but by two. And we are joined by them to our family.

But as we grow we are given the choice as to who our companions will be, and who will become our support on the journey of life.

Will we choose friends who are the Satan’s that tempt us? Or will we choose an angel of God who supports us to reach an eternal goal?

Who are the companion’s on your/our journey? And how are we taking care of those who we meet on the journey—with patience, in support and with compassion and kindness?

"You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove him, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." Lv 19: 17-18

'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."Mt 25: 44-46

So I watched men come who came to CEW as individuals, each with their own personal reasons for choosing to attend, walk out changed because they had become companions—companions in faith. They had begun to share their individual stories of sin, conversion, forgiveness and healing—and now had a new found group of support and a renewed sense that their journey was not for them alone, but that their journey was to be together with Christ.

Heavenly Father, Praise be your company in my life. Thank you for the friends and family who read this reflection and support me on my journey with you. May your Spirit guide me to be the companion you want me to be for others, and to choose faithful companions for myself. While our paths may be different, may we all be joined together, in the end, with you. Amen.

Blessings on you and the companions you have chosen in your journey,
Charlotte