Riding a Two-seater

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV). A “two-seater” is better known in the cycling world as a “tandem bicycle.” Yesterday when I was writing about the strength of the Lord in our journey, I also thought how easy it would be to forget that we have a role to play. When the Lord instructed Joshua to claim every place his foot would touch, it implied he had some walking to do! Certainly this is what the Apostle Paul means in his declaration to the people in Philippi. He knew all of the depravation and struggle of life; he knew all of the bounty and victory of life. However, he knew that without Christ he could do nothing. While I have never ridden a tandem bike, I am told that it is a much better experience than riding solo. A tandem allows two cyclists of differing strength and ability to ride together, pleasurably. The faster rider doesn't need to wait for the slower one; the slower rider doesn't need to struggle to try to keep up with the faster rider. A tandem turns the basically solitary, individualistic activity of cycling into a mutual experience that may be shared by both riders. And, isn’t that really what our relationship with Christ does spiritually for us? We certainly don’t have the strength to endure life successfully; yet, Christ does. We cannot be as strong or fast as Christ, even if we knew the way; yet, Christ does. No matter how great our sense of individuality, we cannot endure the pain of being alone in life; and, with Christ we don’t need to! We can live only in relationships. A rather crude and cruel experiment was carried out by Emperor Frederick, who ruled the Roman Empire in the thirteenth century. He wanted to know what man's original language was: Hebrew, Greek, or Latin? He decided to isolate a few infants from the sound of the human voice. He reasoned that they would eventually speak the natural tongue of man. Wet nurses who were sworn to absolute silence were obtained, and though it was difficult for them, they abided by the rule. The infants never heard a word, not a sound from a human voice. Within several months they were all dead. Whatever path my foot finds to walk upon, I can know that I will be victorious for He walks with me. Even when I am so tired I can no longer walk, He will carry me to the end of the journey! Come on… hop on the two-seater!