PARTNERS ON THE JOURNEY

                In my office, I have one of those tin signs that you can buy at a gift shop. It is a picture of two guys portaging their canoe and supplies. At the top it says “Partners in the Voyage.” That sign reminds me of my wilderness experience when I was about to enter college. I was invited to be part of a three week adventure that was intended to prepare me for the challenges of college life. I went into that experience with blind enthusiasm. I am very thankful that I went on that trip, but had I known up front what was involved I probably would not have signed up. For the first week we canoed north from Honey Rock camp in central Wisconsin. For the last two weeks we backpacked through wilderness until we emerged on the shore of Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. During those three weeks, I was constantly challenged and pushed to my limits. I discovered much about myself and about being a part of a team.

                Our spiritual life is a journey, not unlike my backpacking trip. We begin the journey with great enthusiasm, but little knowledge of what lies ahead of us. We soon discover that the journey is harder than we thought it would be. There are times of great excitement, interspersed with unanticipated challenges. We quickly discover that this is a journey best shared with others. I could go backpacking on my own, but it would not be as much fun, and it would be far more dangerous. I can try to live the Christian life on my own, but it is not as rewarding and it is far more dangerous.

                The Bible says much about being partners on this life-long journey. One of the most well-known passages is Eccl. 4:9-12.

    Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

    If one falls down, his friend can help him up.

    But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

    Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

   Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

    A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

                There are some important spiritual truths in this passage for all who embark on the adventure of this spiritual journey.

We make better progress in life when we work together. When you are backpacking with others, you push each other to give your best effort. It is not really a competition. It is more a drawing out of full effort; not wanting to let the others down. Solomon put it this way in Proverbs 27:17. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. When we work together we accomplish more than if we try to do it on our own.

There are times when we all stumble and fall. We need a companion to help us get back on our feet. During my wilderness experience, one of my teammates pinched a nerve in his shoulder, which made his left arm go completely numb. The only way he could continue on the trip was for each of us to carry some of his equipment. On another occasion, we were walking through a swampy area when one of my teammates dropped straight down into the ground. At that point we discovered that we were hiking on a floating bog. This fellow had broken through the top layer and was suspended by his backpack, saving him from going all the way through. Together we hauled him out of the hole.

                On this spiritual journey there will be times when one of us will need extra help. There will also be times when one of us will step into a spiritual hole, and need someone to pull him out. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

Having a fellow traveler helps us to overcome the inevitable discouragement that we will face along the way. There are many times during our spiritual journey when the weight of life will wear us down. We can become discouraged and want to give up. It is at those times that we need others to come along side of us and encourage us to keep going. One of the greatest gifts we can give to one another is the gift of encouragement. We all need it, but we don’t all get it as regularly as we would like. During these unsettled times, we need to be intentional encouragers. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)

A lone traveler is vulnerable, but those traveling together can offer a greater sense of security and protection. We are often braver when we are with others, then when we are on our own. One of my fears whenever I am backpacking on the North Shore is that I will run into a bear. Having other people with me lessens some of my fear. I figure if there is more than one of us, we can scare the bear away more easily.

                We have an enemy who is far more menacing and far more cunning than a bear. The Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion. He is always looking for the vulnerable, the unprotected, to attack. When we band together, we are better equipped to fend off Satan’s attacks. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

On this journey, we need a guide. Ecclesiastes says that a cord of three strands in not easily broken. The glue that holds us together is not our determination, or our skills and talents. It is our faith in Christ. Our strength comes from Him. He has not only set the course for us to follow, he has traveled the course before us.

                As a part of my wilderness experience we had two upper class leaders on our team. They were there to watch over us and keep us from making any real bad mistakes. They were able to guide us on our journey, because earlier in the summer they had taken the same trip. They knew the path we would be taking, as well as how to get us out of the wilderness, if an emergency arose.

                The Bible assures us that Jesus has already blazed the trail before us. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

                I hope to be able to do some more backpacking this summer, if the Lord allows. But every day, I am on a journey of far greater significance. It is a journey of faith that will last until I stand in Christ’s presence in eternity. We are all on this journey. Christ wants us to travel together; partners in the journey.