Abandoned
Around the world, there are many of these places in existence, but this particular one is in remote outback Western Australia. Far out in the Never Never, up a very long dusty dirt track, lies a disused Mine, and close by is the Town, well the Diner is still there, very dusty and no furniture, the sole Petrol Pump is still there, but time has stripped it of all but its core frame, the streets are all tar sealed, and laid out nicely, but most of the houses, businesses, Hotels, Holiday Park and such are all gone, dumped into a ravine, but a few still stand abandoned and deserted. Wittenoom or Vittenoom to those from a Germanic Background, is all but gone, all the Road Signs have all been pulled down, and the Towns Name has been removed from Maps, so in essence it has vanished.
If you went there today, there in the searing heat, it looks just the same as it has done for a few decades, silent under the blazing sun, well except for the occasional sound of a small motor, popping away. Follow the sound and you will eventually come to an abandoned home that has a single resident, the Town actually does have one, and only one resident remains. He has a garden and shade trees around his house and an ample water supply from a deep bore, and he actually has a job here. You see the Weather People in the Big Smoke, thousands of kilometers away, want to know what the weather is like out here, because soon that weather system will blow way down their way, and the Pilots and Aviation People would like to know what is blowing in from the “Never Never.”
So, meticulously, twice a day, he drives across town in his wee buggy to the weather station, takes the readings of wind, rain (if it ever does rain), cloud formations, and with a Satellite Phone, phones in his 10am and 3pm readings, for which he earns a small weekly income, which enables him to continue to reside here in “The Back of Beyond.” The Town is Abandoned, Forgotten, but its sole and only resident, just likes it this way and still calls it “Home.”
Back in the Jewish Temple Service, the “Morning Sacrifice” was also at 10am, and the “Evening Sacrifice” was at 3pm, meticulously and carefully preformed, as a permanent reminder that one day, Messiah would come, the “Lamb of God” and he would make all things right, the Abandoned would become Inhabited, and the Desert would blossom and bloom under the bountiful waters that would spring up and would change everything from a barren dry desert to lush vegetation and inhabitable.
Many of us can also feel “Abandoned” as mothers and fathers still abandon children, leaving them for others to care for. Spouses abandon their mates, move off to perceived “Greener Pastures” which often are no better than what was left behind. Hollywood has made Movies on this theme, and we often like to see what happens to people and children who have been Abandoned, how do they survive the trials and difficulties that they face, how do they manage to carve out a system that allows them to exist and to survive.
People abandon and neglect others, but God will never do this, as we are close to his heart, and though he appears to be remote, he is very close and caring, just working through things that need to be done, and then “The Cavalry” as it were, will ride into town, rescue us and make all things right and all things new. Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me.” Hebrews 13:5 b “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Do we religiously “Call in our Weather Report” twice daily, morning and afternoon, to our Heavenly Father, reporting how things are going here around us, in what appears to be an Abandoned and neglected wreck of a planet, are you reporting in that you are still “On Duty” and “Active” at your post, still looking out and looking after things? Or has your dedication slipped somewhat?” Has God Abandoned you? Back to the Bible; Hebrews 13:5 b “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” God does not Abandon you, so what has actually happened?
You see “Repentance” in Hebrew is in essence 180 Degrees of a Compass. So if you cannot see God, he can clearly see your back, just Repent, About-Turn and Quick-March right back into his outstretched arms, as he was right behind you all the time, you were not Abandoned, we got caught up in things, got turned around, and lost sight of God. Micah 6:8 “Has it not been told thee, O man, what is good? Or what does the LORD require of thee, but to do justice, and love mercy, and be ready to walk with the Lord thy God.” {LXX.} You see walking “With Someone” Arm in Arm, or Hand in Hand is so special, as long as you hang onto them, you can never get lost, and Jesus has walked the way before us, the Holy Spirit is our Guide, so it is hard to get separated from God. Abandoned is absolutely impossible, you just need to hang on, “and be ready to walk with the Lord thy God.”
Romans 8:37-39 “None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing – living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s Love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” MSG. So are you “Abandoned?” Have you “Lost God?” Repentance time for you, God is still right there behind you, confess, return and fling yourself into the outstretched arms of God. Welcome Home!
If you think that you are “Beyond Redemption,” then consider these two quotes that tell us that God will do everything, and go to infinite lengths, just for you and you alone. Quote; “In the parable the shepherd goes out to search for one sheep–the very least that can be numbered. So if there had been but one lost soul, Christ would have died for that one.” {COL 187}
Quote; “The soul that has given himself to Christ is more precious in His sight than the whole world. The Saviour would have passed through the agony of Calvary that one might be saved in His kingdom. He will never abandon one for whom He has died. Unless His followers choose to leave Him, He will hold them fast.” {DA 480} You are never Abandoned, God is quietly standing right behind you, waiting for your response and return, so respond quickly right now. Welcome Home!
