The masses search for truth, but reject it because it is not popular. Truth has been out of fashion since man changed his robe of fadeless light for a garment of faded leaves.

Just because we are alone in our stand for God doesn't mean we are right; we could be hard-headed. Every person must determine for themselves whether they will stand for or against God's Holy truth.

Noah built and voyaged alone. His neighbors laughed at his strangeness and perished in style. I Peter 3:20 states that only eight souls were saved by water. That doesn't sound like a very high success rate, but how many people today win eight souls in a lifetime?

Abraham wandered and worshipped alone (Gen. 12:1). The Sodomites smiled at the simple shepherd, followed the fashion, and fed the flames.

Daniel dined (Daniel 1) and prayed (Daniel 6:10) alone. He was cast into the lion's den, but God sent his angel to close the mouth of the lions. He was not really alone.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the burning fiery furnace. But they were not alone. Nebuchadnezzar said "the form of the fourth is like the Son of God". It only looked like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were alone, for God was with them during their hardest trial.

Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. I Kings 19:18, God said there were 7,000 that hadn't bowed the knee unto Baal. Are we like the 7,000 that stayed together, not seeking Elijah; or will be we be like Elijah, who got on the firing line for God?

Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone, Lamentations 3:1-21, 48-53. Jeremiah 38:5, when Jeremiah was put in a pit and left to die, God wouldn't let him be alone, but sent Ebedmelech the Ethiopian to rescue him.

(1) Israel in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses.

(2) Israel, during the time of the Kings, praised Moses and persecuted the prophets.

(3) Israel, during the time of Caiaphas, praised the prophets and persecuted Jesus.

(4) And multitudes now, both in the church and the world, applaud the courage and fortitude of the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and martyrs, but condemn as stubbornness or foolishness the same faithfulness to truth today.

] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]

Why not change the pattern of your prayers now and then? Wake up some morning and ask: "Dear Lord, is there anything I can do for You today?"

...Charles Haddon Spurgeon