An online friend of mine was being criticized the other day for having online friends whom she'd never met, and may never meet (this side of heaven, anyway). When we got talking about it (online!), it got me thinking...
I have been so incredibly blessed by some people whom I've never met, and will probably never meet this side of eternity, through online sermons, lectures and blogs. I have also been blessed beyond words by online friendships God has placed in my life. I have friends for whom I pray, and who pray for me - and I don't just mean that we give each other a mention on our knees before God. I mean true, burdened prayer. Folks who've not experienced the kind of bond that can exist outside of the normal face-to-face meetings may wonder at how genuine, how helpful, how real such bonds can be. In many ways, I don't blame them - I'd have been rather skeptical myself, had I not been blessed with such things in my life.
My friend, the other day, was being warned by her friends that, 'you may not even like them if you met them in real life'. This made me think of my dear friend, Mr Spurgeon. You see, I am blessed by the words of this man again and again. His words are an encouragement to me. They warm my heart, make me see more of the beauty of my Saviour. They make me love Him more; hate my sin more.
But the truth is: I have never, and will never, meet him on this side of eternity. Had I been alive at the same time as he was, and had I met him 'in real life', I may not have liked him that much (I'm quite sure he wouldn't have been too 'taken' with me...), but the truth remains - through his words, whether on the page, or on the screen, he is a great source of blessing and encouragement to me.
So, the next time any of you are questioned about the possibility of online friendships being true, worthwhile or 'real', maybe you ought to think of some godly writer who 'being dead yet speaketh'. In eternity, when we do finally meet, there will be no sin, and no possibility of us not liking each other, and we will rejoice that God used the one to bless the other.
And to those of you who have been an encouragement to me over the past year or so; and to those of you who have truly become dear friends, and who are ever before me in my prayers.... even if it's God's will that we never meet here on earth, it is true that both emotionally and spiritually, y'all have been a great blessing in my life.
And if God wills it that we do get to meet here.... I do pray we like each other too ;)
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I have several online friends I "met" through a homeschooling message board. We have been "together" for over 5 years. Our message board has shrunk from scores of members to about 12, but those who have remained stay in contact almost daily. I have met 2 of them in person; they are all my friends. They know so much about me and I about them... we do pray for each other, we share joys and sorrows. Yes, we can have friends we've never met in person.
ReplyDeleteHear! Hear! I agree 100%! I have been blessed enough to meet several of my online friends and love each and every one of them! That's because our hearts were already entwined through the ups, downs, joys, sorrows, and prayers that we had shared over the years before actually meeting face-to-face. My online friends are among some of the best friends I have ever known and the relationships formed with them are very real indeed! Thanks for putting in a good word for them!
ReplyDeleteI so agree. I have been abundantly blessed by some of the best of friendships through the internet.
ReplyDeleteAnne~ I am certain that everyone in my life, be they online, offline or anywhere in between is there for a purpose. I appreciate those I lean on and love and am glad that I have them in my life. Blessings come in many forms and my online friends are often a big blessing to me.
ReplyDeleteYea! I agree!
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!
ReplyDeleteHeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com
Great point! I agree wholeheartedly! God bless you today! - Rachel
ReplyDeleteVery good reply. I feel the same way, I think that all people brought into our lives are brought there by God. Divine appointments. You are right about the Saints that have gone onto heaven that have enriched my life. For me like Amy Carmichael, Fenelon,George Whitfield, Hudson Taylor, and I could go on and on. Through their writings I have learned about God and grown in my faith. Where would I be with out Tozer. The friendships I have met have strengthen me and helped me when I have been down. In a way through this medium we have ministry that surrounds the globe and I know I for one am very thankful for this gift. I think everything you said was well put.
ReplyDeleteExcellent thoughts, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteI too am thankful for the online friendships I have found through blogging, I have been immensely blessed by so many wonderful Christians. What a great comparison you've made. (Spurgeon) Makes perfect sense to me! I have face-to-face friends who don't understand why I blog. But then there are aspects about their lives I don't understand. So, we're even. ;o)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts on online friends. There are certainly benefits or shall I say advantages to having online friends. One of them is that you can be friends with anyone who has access to the internet around the globe! Quite amazing! But I am still bothered by the impersonal nature of online friendships with all their benefits/merits. But that's neither here nor there. We are in the 21st Century after all and each of us must pray for wisdom to discern how we can faithfully and effectively "serve God's purpose" in our generation even as David and a whole host of godly men and women gone before us did in their generations. May the LORD help us! Blessings in Christ!
ReplyDelete