The power of an authentic life

 

By Isaiah-Phillips Akintola

I know the first thing that comes to mind when you read this headline is that it sounds contradictory to what the scriptures says. Well, it may seem so, but it doesn’t if one carefully looks at the context and direction of my observation. Indeed, it was the Lord who said it was not good for man to be alone-all one.

Nevertheless, the aloneness of man, biblically speaking doesn’t in any way suggest that Adam was lonely. The purpose he was given companionship was designed for something far greater than his emotional need could comprehend, at least before his fall in the garden. In fact Adam was not aware he add any other need until the father decided it was not good for him to be alone. This issue was never about loneliness, but for that of purpose that far outweigh any sense of human need.

The definer of Adams fulfillment and satisfaction was his creator. Companionship and relationship was, and is still designed for a higher divine prophetic agenda.
Loneliness was the product of the fall, and it’s still very much is, in our 21st century post-modern humanist, self driven society.

Being alone in the sight of the father is not just a reflection of an inadequate capacity to effectively carry out a function, but to however reflect a balanced spectrum of a superior intelligence, ordained to show forth the multi-dimensional wisdom and glory of the creation of man in the class of divine beings.

Marriage was part of the father’s eternal grand design to portray his majesty, glory and sovereignty. We know that marriage has never been the idea of man or cultural belief.
Marriage is the first spiritual and the most powerful human institution, created by the father to display his eternal purpose for creation across the entire universe.

In other words, if you got married just because you were lonely, or for any other reason, outside of the divine blueprint, ordained for marriage, I am afraid, such marriage will lack the required joy and intimacy intended to attract the full blessing of the lord.  While this point is not the aim of this short note, I however felt it would be right to add this in the context of my point which is being alone.

We observed how our lord Jesus Christ, in several occasions, withdraws himself from the crowd to hear the next agenda and direction of the father for his earthly assignment.
It appears after every breakthrough and push towards his prophetic purpose, there is a withdrawal from the people.

The place of his withdrawal was the place of his vision and strength. He was a man of the people, yet he adequately understood why he must conceal himself from the same crowd he was sent to save. This is wisdom in display.   Amidst the endless pursuit of humans, vigorously seeking various forms of friendship and companionships.

However, the beauty of what each of us can bring to such position of (companionship) relationship, that’s if we succeed, will be ultimately determined by what has been carefully drawn and milked out from the quality of our seasons and time of aloneness. The best of our intelligence and productivity in any sphere of discipline is extracted from the point of qualitative quite time of being alone.

Think of this for a second, a person cannot acquire or experience a sound, well informed, qualitative education without investing seasons of quiet time to learn and be developed. Learning requires being alone. How many marriages, concerns and ministry functions today are failing for the singular fact that people have refused to spend quality time to learn to be alone in learning before engaging in such enterprise.

 When you always engage people, who are highly assuming or presumptive in their decision and judgements, that’s a clear sign that they’ve refused to learn the act of listening carefully in quietness before responding.

This kind of individuals do not just cause harm to their company, but also in their relationships even domestically. Maturity, specifically in spiritual matters requires a continual withdrawal from the crowd and public eye to learn, see and know how things are in order to effectively respond with the best of ascending knowledge and wisdom.

There’s the temptation to always look for the opinion and observation of society to afford us a sense of a pass mark even today on social media. We like our posts and remarks to be given a thumb upwards. The irony of this is, someone may like what you’ve posted, and may have benefited from it, and yet may not sense the need to click the like button. How would you judge or measure such behavioral expression?

In most cases because of our humanity, we feel sad for our post not being liked or noticed. It is my impression that people should as much as possible, especially if they are friends, should try to encourage each other by commenting and liking each other’s page.  Even so, if there’s no such response, and you know that what you’ve posted will benefit someone out in that respect, then, merely leave your post or comment there with a clear conscience, knowing fully well that you’ve done your part.

We need to learn to be around crowds, yet precisely be matured in discerning when the father is calling us to be alone with him. In a time when we are constantly being bombarded with all types of noises, especially from the world of news media, social media, sports and unending church programs, we must learn to be alone.

It is the spirit of rejection and insecurity that makes us feel frightened, or look to be losing our hold and control over people close to us, or even our spouse when they are going through a period of being called to be alone.

Every human, single or married needs that seasonal periods of being entirely. It is part of our human construction to find and rediscover ourselves within the context of the world we live in. How many leaders of companies and spiritual elders who desperately need that time for themselves by themselves and without any kind of interference from anyone.

This is a powerful healing therapy that is missing and lacking in our today’s busy life. I am not merely talking about going on holiday with your family. I am referring to that period you need in taking stock.

Learning to evaluate and determine the next step in your life’ journey is a powerful virtue of maturity. A time to stop and look at yourself in the mirror and evaluate how far you’ve come and talk to God in that personal, intimate relationship you’ve missed out for a while, even as servant-leader in ministry.

This is the point where you get to take a lot of things in, and can critically put things in perspective, especially in things that deals with important decision making.  A good successful leader makes a period of aloneness one of the most prioritized points in his or her endeavors. We can see that being alone does not necessarily mean loneliness or disengagement from divine activity.

One of the key manifestations of insecurity and false spirituality is the exhibit of a high-level sense of activity, especially when it sounds or looks highly spiritual. It is almost a general notion and acceptance that when we are seen to be seriously engaged in some form of activity, especially when it implies public view and their approval of acceptance of success, Which in this context may represents some act of the rigorous, unending church service and programs many of us are involved in with little or no resounding result of course, from heaven’s perspective.

We demand to learn and accept the beauty of being alone again and not feel guilty of what others may think or say about your season of silence.  Your productivity in any relationship requires that sometimes, you need to separate yourself for a season, stay away, or even move away to a different region or location as the Spirit of the Lord will lead you.

There’s a need to carefully follow the voice of the father’s direction for your life and that of your family during this epic season.  Being alone, specially when it is spirituality stirred, should always be seen as a virtue of a healthy productive life development.