Robert Putnam, a Harvard professor and author of “Bowling Alone,” has concluded that social isolation is as big a risk factor for premature death as smoking. Another study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine concludes that going to church may in fact extend your life by two to three years. In other words, going to church won’t kill you; it may in fact help you live longer.

Have you been drifting away from real relationships? Has it been awhile since you’ve plugged into church and into the lives of others? If so, Hebrews 10:25 offers a corrective: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Just as it’s easy to get out of the habit of going to church; it’s just as easy to get into the habit of connecting with God and His people every Sunday. Lay aside your excuses. Get rid of your guilt about not going and just go because if you stay unplugged you will eventually unravel.

Actually, going to church is not really for our benefit anyway; it’s for God’s glory. We go in order to give Him praise and adoration. A side benefit is that we also learn and grow and become connected to others. One of the best ways to experience biblical community with others is by joining a Bible study group. Some other ideas include serving together, reaching out to those on the Gulf Coast, or attending a Divorce Care group.

Real people just like you are just as lonely as you are. As Ellen Goodman says, “If you are feeling isolated, you are not alone.” The good news is that you and I have been created for community and hard-wired for friendships.

But most importantly, we have been designed for a relationship with God. Will you respond to His offer by confessing your sins and receiving the Lord Jesus into your life? After all, since Jesus was known to be a friend of sinners, I qualify…and so do you.

Once you begin a friendship with Jesus, you can be assured of the promise found in Hebrews 13:5: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” You can’t find a friend like that anywhere else.

(Pastor Brian writes a daily blog and can be reached by email at brian@pontiacbible.org , but he’d prefer to talk to you in person)

You can reach the author at   ray@keepbelieving.com . Click   here  to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.