How natural it is for us to desire to be in the presence of the Master, to walk with him, to talk with him and to behold his wondrous works. How pleasant to sit at his feet and learn of him. How often we think of those who enjoyed walking with him over the hills of Judea — and wish for ourselves that glorious privilege. It is our privilege, though our natural eyes cannot see him, to dwell in his presence, to commune with him and to learn the deep things of God. In the secret closet, we often feel very near to Him, and our souls long to remain there. Yet, like the man from whom the devils were cast out, we are often not permitted to remain with the Lord—He sends us away.
When we feel ourselves apart from him, it is not always because we have wandered away — for often he finds it needful to send us away for some purpose. Even those who were privileged to be his closest companions while on earth were sent away from him from time to time on various missions.
Sometimes he sent them with the message, “Go and tell.” Obedience to this command, took them away from his presence. Their eyes no longer witnessed His mighty works, nor did their ears hear His gracious words. They did not have the support of his presence — but found themselves apart from the Master.
In the same way, we must often go out from Him with a message, and, being apart from Him in a sense, we may find ourselves needy, seemingly relying on our own strength. Yet, we must daily carry His message to the people, and while doing so, it’s no wonder if we sometimes feel lonely. However, like the disciples, once we have spoken the message, we may return again into His presence.
One he sent away for investigation, saying, “Go … and show yourself to the priest.” Sometimes we must go out among our enemies and be a gazing-stock for them. We must be the object of their criticism, of their scoffs, of their mockings — and all this apart from the Master. But shall we not bear all these things and rejoice in them, that when we have returned to the Master, and are sitting in the quiet and silence at his feet, holding sweet converse with him — we may know we have wrought his will and glorified his name?
Sometimes he sends us forth to perils. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” But he also gives us the sweet assurance, “Nothing shall by any means hurt you.” His messengers now, as in the days of old, must face perils; and these perils must, in a sense, be faced away from the Master’s presence.
Sometimes he sends to suffering. He said of Paul, “I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Even Jesus Himself was sent apart from the Father. He had to leave the glories of Heaven and all they entailed, sacrificing all the honor He had and the joy of being in the Father’s presence — and go to earth to be despised, mocked, hated, scourged, and crucified. Sometimes his spirit was heavy, and sorrow weighed him down; and at last, in the most trying hour, he felt his separation from his Father most keenly and cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” If it was necessary for the Son of God to go apart from the Father, to be sad and lonely and heavy-hearted, and at last feel himself forsaken — then should we think it a strange thing if we sometimes have a similar experience?
How sweet to be with him in the secret closet and in the meetings with his saints. How it warms our hearts and fills us with courage and hope. But for the sake of our work, we must go apart to endure, sacrifice and suffer. We cannot always see his smiling face. But there will be a time when we shall forever be with the Lord. Until the time shall come, let us be willing to obey him, even though it takes all the courage and fortitude we have. If we find ourselves apart from him, let us not accuse ourselves of wandering away, if we are doing the work of God. Heaven will be all the sweeter because of our having been, in this sense, apart from the Master here — and we shall be the better prepared to enjoy his presence when he comes for us.
Charles Wesley Naylor is considered one of the most prolific and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God. He was bedridden for much of his adult life but wrote eight books, a newspaper column and over 150 songs. Many of his writings are in the public domain.
