"I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof."
-Psalm 102:7
You know those days when you were alone? Maybe you're happily married or in a relationship, maybe you are indeed lonely right now, or maybe you do get lonely here and there but not always.
Hikikomori is a Japanese term for "hermit," a person who stays in the confinement of their home. In Japan, the idea of loneliness is so strong that hikikomori, who are mostly youths and young adults, lock themselves up for as long as a decade or more.
The question is not much so who are the hikikomori in my life, but rather why are there these hikikomori? The people you know may not go this extreme to hide in their room for 10 years, but they may be alone in their own ways: they are the only vegetarian of the group, the only person of a certain ethnicity, the only person who has a specific hobby, etc. Then, what can we do about it?
Have you read the second half of Ephesians 2? This was written based on an awareness that people are divided, that there is a fence between people. We divide people because we're not comfortable with some people, or even individuals. The result is a manmade loneliness.
"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
This first part acknowledges that there is indeed separation. Back then there may only be Jews and Gentiles (to certain extent, circumcised and uncircumcised), but now there are divisions between: "weird" and "normal," ethnicities, grades, and a whole lot more. It could even just be you don't like a person.
Are you one of the people who divides, or is lonely or even a hikakomori?
So what does Jesus do for you?
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace,who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
How do we see it?
Recently, I went to Anime Expo held on the 4th of July weekend. Here, there are people who dress in a shirt, pants, and nothing else; and then there are people who come in costumes (often called cosplayers). Here, no one cared about how people looked or acted. No one knew who knew what or didn't know what. If you loved anime, great! If you don't like anime, welcome!
-Psalm 102:7
You know those days when you were alone? Maybe you're happily married or in a relationship, maybe you are indeed lonely right now, or maybe you do get lonely here and there but not always.
Hikikomori is a Japanese term for "hermit," a person who stays in the confinement of their home. In Japan, the idea of loneliness is so strong that hikikomori, who are mostly youths and young adults, lock themselves up for as long as a decade or more.
The question is not much so who are the hikikomori in my life, but rather why are there these hikikomori? The people you know may not go this extreme to hide in their room for 10 years, but they may be alone in their own ways: they are the only vegetarian of the group, the only person of a certain ethnicity, the only person who has a specific hobby, etc. Then, what can we do about it?
Have you read the second half of Ephesians 2? This was written based on an awareness that people are divided, that there is a fence between people. We divide people because we're not comfortable with some people, or even individuals. The result is a manmade loneliness.
"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
This first part acknowledges that there is indeed separation. Back then there may only be Jews and Gentiles (to certain extent, circumcised and uncircumcised), but now there are divisions between: "weird" and "normal," ethnicities, grades, and a whole lot more. It could even just be you don't like a person.
Are you one of the people who divides, or is lonely or even a hikakomori?
So what does Jesus do for you?
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace,who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
How do we see it?
Recently, I went to Anime Expo held on the 4th of July weekend. Here, there are people who dress in a shirt, pants, and nothing else; and then there are people who come in costumes (often called cosplayers). Here, no one cared about how people looked or acted. No one knew who knew what or didn't know what. If you loved anime, great! If you don't like anime, welcome!
Anime Expo was a place where people who loved anime, often labeled as rejects or weird in society, could come together and just truly be themselves in unity. No one cared who took pictures of who, it was al a weekend of good fun and shopping.
This is what we must try to create. This is only possible, however, by the goodness of Christ Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit. When you accepted Christ, no longer do you have to be lonely or rejected. In Christ, you can no longer see differences to divide but rather the will to love. In Christ you have the Creator of Heavens and the Earth that always loves you no matter what. In Christ you are guaranteed a place in eternity where you can live without pain, rejection, and hate.
Who are you? A divider, or a lover? Are you alone, or are you guaranteed that you are always loved no matter what your failures are.
If you want to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior today, and no longer be alone or a divider, then please pray this in your heart.
"Dear Jesus, I only need you. I don't want to be lonely. I don't want to divide people. I want to be loved. I want to love those who need love. I reject the labels society gave me. I no longer want to label people. I only want to be in You. In Jesus' name. Amen."
If you prayed that prayer, please click here.
This is what we must try to create. This is only possible, however, by the goodness of Christ Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit. When you accepted Christ, no longer do you have to be lonely or rejected. In Christ, you can no longer see differences to divide but rather the will to love. In Christ you have the Creator of Heavens and the Earth that always loves you no matter what. In Christ you are guaranteed a place in eternity where you can live without pain, rejection, and hate.
Who are you? A divider, or a lover? Are you alone, or are you guaranteed that you are always loved no matter what your failures are.
If you want to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior today, and no longer be alone or a divider, then please pray this in your heart.
"Dear Jesus, I only need you. I don't want to be lonely. I don't want to divide people. I want to be loved. I want to love those who need love. I reject the labels society gave me. I no longer want to label people. I only want to be in You. In Jesus' name. Amen."
If you prayed that prayer, please click here.
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