75. Alone Again, Naturally

I’m back to the Bible Sampler Quilt project today. The next block goes with Jesus’ glorious entry in Jerusalem. Little did the joyful crowds know while they were celebrating and shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” that soon they would disperse and leave Him to suffer and die, alone, on the cross.

My pastor recently preached a series called: Sola.

Sola: What Matters Most

“Sola” is Latin for “alone”. As in: Christ alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone, and Glory to God alone.

Alone. Being alone is what we know in these pandemic years of 2020 and now 2021. Whether we like it or not, we are isolated like never before. There is a silver lining here, in that, whether we like it or not, we’ve had the opportunity to come face to face with our mortality without the usual societal props distracting our attention. Our relationship to God is one-on-one. Someday, somewhere, somehow, we all have to face Him alone. I can’t work out my personal salvation as a member of a group. My church membership, my family ties, my social status, while important, will not be there for me at the final judgment. I will stand alone to face the music. This thought makes me extremely uncomfortable. I prefer life in safe anonymity. This is found in crowds, where I can fly under the radar. A middle child of a large family, attending bulging schools in the boomer years, I grew up outside of the spotlight. This suited me just fine.

But then I remember that I will not be alone on that final judgment day after all. Jesus Christ will be there, imputing His righteousness to me so that I will appear sinless, pure, white as snow. And He alone is all we need. The only obstacles that would stand in the way, which is me and my sins, have also been nailed to the cross with The Perfect Sacrifice, Jesus Christ.

An old song comes to mind here. Anyone else remember J. Vernon Magee’s radio program?

(Refrain) Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.

-Elvina M. Hall, 1865