One of the most well known friendships in Scripture is the one between David and Saul's son Jonathan. It continues to amaze me as I read about it in 1 Samuel 18-20. This friendship was developing right under Saul's nose and it was developing because God was doing it despite Saul's extreme jealousy and hatred for David. This friendship served (I believe) as a form of God's preservation in David's life to prepare him for kingship. You know their friendship was a direct work of God because 18:1 tells us, "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself." Colossians 2:2 also expresses Paul's desire that believers be "knit together in love." Now, I haven't broken this up and studied it like mad but reading the English in 1 Samuel... the "was knit" seems to tell us this wasn't something done by the parties mentioned but rather happened to them. Knowing the scope of the story we can safely say God was doing this (and one may ask.. is there anything God doesn't have a hand in?). But this doesn't seem to be a friendship that faded after the passing of time. It doesn't seem to be one that allowed a summer or a semester or a new brother or sister floor to steal its' affections. We know this because while the beginning of Ch.18 introduced us to this friendship, we read later in 20:3-4, "But David took an oath and said, 'Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.' Jonathan said to David, 'Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you.'" This was real friendship.
As I look toward the reality of being done at Moody, it occurs to me that the time is coming for me to say goodbye to my friends here. I've often said Moody has felt more like home to me than my home. It's like a home away from home away from home. Notice the three homes... permanent residence, Moody, and... heaven. I'm the only believer in my family and biblically my spiritual family is closer than my blood family. While I know we can talk about coming to visit for graduation or making trips or making phone calls or always having facebook, but I know from experience that many if not most of the friendships we have may not be maintained or deepened. I know a real chance exists that I may never see many of these brothers and sisters again. We come here and then scatter across the world for ministry. God in His providence may put us together in ministry later but He may not. Being who I am (one who hasn't historically been the social type) I find myself experiencing a deep sadness at this realization. Maybe it's a product of God's work in me. This is new to me... this sadness. I feel like the android Lt. Commander Data in Star Trek when he first begins to experience emotions. "An intriguing sensation," he'd likely say. While I thank God for more of a heart for people and I know He will use it for ministry... the byproduct is difficult.
I suppose I can now appreciate the song, "What a friend we have in Jesus" in a fresh way. Oh what a friend He is... and more.
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