I am an Architect, I design and build houses as a profession.
I have designed and built all types of houses- residential, commercial, schools, churches, temples, hospitals, hotels, etc. I have designed and built residential houses of different types: Block of Flats, Maisonettes, Terraces- these are buildings that accommodate several families on several floors in different apartments under one roof.
I have also designed and built bungalows, duplexes, triplexes mansions, etc. These are houses that are occupied by one family on one or several floors, under one roof. In Nigerian parlance, they are called “Stand Alone” houses. They are independent of any other building, they are ALONE in their compound.
I was invited to preach in a Church some years ago. As I went up the stage, I asked a controversial question and asked those who agreed with me to raise their hands.
People started looking around to see how many did. I saw some folks lift up their hands half-way, then took them down when they noticed those who did were in the MINORITY and they didn’t want to be identified with them. Such people don’t have a mind of their own and don’t feel comfortable being with the MINORITY. They are more comfortable flowing with the popular opinion- it doesn’t matter if that popular opinion is WRONG.
In the Book of Numbers Chapter 12, we read an interesting story. Moses sent 12 men as spies to the Promised Land, Canaan. These men were picked from the 12 Tribes of Israel, 1 per Tribe. They were called LEADERS from each Tribe, so we can conclude they knew each other before going on that Covert Operation to Canaan.
Scriptures tell us the Operation took 40 days. So, for 40 days, these 12 men were together. They traveled to Canaan together and returned together. They slept in the same place, ate together, did everything together. They would wake up and strategize on how they would go about for Intelligence Gathering. They would come back to their base and rub minds on how their day went. They would compare notes and hold strategic discussions on what they discovered.
Next day, they would go out again for more Intelligence Gathering…
So, we can conclude that before they returned to Moses in the Camp, they all knew what everybody’s position was. Caleb and Joshua knew what the other 10 spies were going to say, the other 10 spies knew what Caleb and Joshua would say.
I can even imagine that there could have been 4 spies who were on the same side with Caleb and Joshua, with 8 spies on the other side. And after several deliberations and discussions, 2 defected to the other side- to be with the MAJORITY! We see this happen every day: people leave PDP for APC, people leave LP for ADC, people leave ADC for NDC…
People just have a problem standing alone on their convictions! Being ALONE makes a lot of people uncomfortable. There is comfort being in a pack. But unfortunately, the PACK could be a (Headless) MOB.
Scripture says, “…When I called Abraham, I called him ALONE” -Isaiah 51:2
That is how we must live our lives to be of any benefit to God- STAND ALONE!
If you don’t feel comfortable as a Duplex (alone) but you’d rather be a Block of Flats (with other tenants), you won’t really go far with God.
David once complained about his discomfort and frustrations in Psalm Chapter 42: “My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, ‘where is your God?’… Why are you downcast o my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” -Verses 3, 5
But he mentioned the reason he was in frustration and discomfort in verse 4- he was just unaware! “For I used to go WITH THE MULTITUDE; I went with them to the House of God…With the MULTITUDE that kept a pilgrim feast” David identified with the MAJORITY. He moved with the PACK, the MOB, so his frustrations are understood. To be free from all discomfort and frustrations, you MUST learn to STAND ALONE. Your calling and convictions do not need validation from ANYBODY.
Destinies are birthed in the place of aloneness with God, NEVER with a crowd, NEVER in a multitude.
“Then Jacob was left ALONE; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day” -Genesis 32:24
Moses was ALONE when he saw the Burning Bush and heard God’s Voice.
The boy Samuel was ALONE when God called him.
David was ALONE when he killed the lion and the bear.
Jacob was ALONE when he saw the ladder with angels going up and down on it.
Daniel was ALONE when he refused to eat the food from the King’s table in Babylon. You can imagine how he must have felt being the only one who had a different opinion to every other person (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego joined him later)!
He was also ALONE when he defied the King’s Orders and was thrown in the Lions’ Den.
You MUST be willing to stand on your convictions, even if it means standing ALONE: that is the PROOF that you are on the Right Path. It may be uncomfortable, the Optics will not be good, you would probably be ridiculed and scorned. But hang in there! The Capacity to STAND ALONE is a product of INNER STRENGTH.
Scripture says, “Building up YOURSELF in your Most Holy Faith…” -Jude 1:20.
You can only do that when you STAND ALONE…
There is a place for Corporate Meetings, Prayers, Scripture Study and all that; but true GROWTH in God is found when you STAND ALONE.
Shalom!
Haruna Daniels.