Third Man Factor
By: Kristen L. McNulty
Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.
There is a phenomenon that many people who found themselves in survival situations have experienced. The phenomenon? It's something referred to as the "third man factor", where a person finds that even though they are physically alone, they feel a presence by their side. Climbers of Mount Everest have experienced it. Sailors completing a solo journey around the world describe it happening to them. Even Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famous Antarctic explorer, talks about it in his 1919 book South.
While scientists have studied the “third man factor” and have yet to find a reason for it, the Bible tells us exactly what is happening in moments like these. In the book of Psalms we have David recount his own experiences with it when he wrote:
"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you." Psalm 139:7-12
No matter what, God is there
Here we learn that God is the one behind these peoples experiences, behind our experiences. No matter where we go, He is with us. Whether that's on top of Mount Everest or at the bottom of the world, lost in Antarctica, God is there. For those who don't believe, they don't acknowledge God as the One with them, but it doesn't change the truth of who was there even if they didn't recognize Him. For those of us who do believe, the bible tells us that not only is God always with us, but we have the spirit of God Himself in us (see 1 Corinthians 3:16). So if there is ever a time when we say we can't see Him or feel Him, maybe this should be a challenge to always look for and recognize Him. Even when we feel alone because we've been betrayed or rejected by other people, God is there. Even when we journey somewhere with not another person in sight, He is with us. Even when we are so busy and distracted that we don't even see Him, it doesn't change the fact that He is there.
So why does it take a huge adventure or expedition for many to notice His presence? I'm convinced it's because we don't really look or listen. We are all busy people, keeping packed schedules and even in the moments when we have downtime, instead of sitting in silence, we distract ourselves with entertainment or turn up the music. But somehow, removed from all of that in a place with no one else around, people do take notice.
Learning to recognize his presence
I'm convinced in my own life that I would see God at work more and recognize His presence in my own life to a greater degree if I would simply stop and look for Him instead of allowing busyness to blind my eyes. How do I know? Because when preparing for this devotional, I did a little test. The truth is for the last week I had been feeling discouraged and like somehow God had taken a step back. Which deep down I knew wasn't true, but in those moments it's easy to believe the lie. So over the course of 7 days I found out my car is broken beyond repair, I developed an infection on my face of all places, the meds I was put on to get rid of said infection made me very sick and then the camping trip I had been looking forward to for months and months was cancelled as the park was remaining closed because of the high covid case count in the region. Oh and because of the high case count I also can't see or socialize with anyone face to face, so there's that too. Through it all I was having a hard time seeing God in the midst of it until I asked myself did I actually really look? Or was I so busy and so focused on myself that I wouldn't see Him even if he put up a billboard? So I stopped and I looked back and as I did, I started to notice things. A series of blessings in the midst of it all that I had failed to recognize at the time. Which were:
-my friend who after hearing the news about my car, offered to lend me her vehicle for my camping trip.
-someone else came forward to help create a temporary fix on my car so I have wheels for a few more weeks while I search for a replacement.
-the same day I called my doctors office when I noticed the infection I was able to get in to see someone, which usually doesn't happen.
-then another friend, when she heard the camping was cancelled, offered for me to camp on crown land near their camp so someone would be close by if I needed anything.
-and then there was the person who owed me money and paid back what they owed, in one lump sum. It was completely unexpected, but now that I look back, they probably were prompted to do so by God.
As I've learned yet again, no matter what happens in our lives or how dark it seems, God is there. And if we look close enough we can see the fingerprints of our Saviour even during the trying times in our lives.
Look For Him
So let us look for Him. The next time you feel alone or unsure or afraid, look. Stop and cry out to God in that place. Turn off the music and turn off the distractions and pray. Open His word and ask Him to speak into your heart. Think back on what has been going on and look to see His hand in the midst of it. Because there isn't a place we can go in this life that we don't go without Him and His love.
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
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