"Our work here is done, Tonto." - Lone Ranger
At the end of each episode, the Lone Ranger would disappear when people weren't looking. Often times he would say, "Our work here is done, Tonto," and they would slip away unnoticed. People would eventually notice and someone would remark, "Who was that masked man?"
Now, no one needs to correct me on the following. I know the mythos surrounding the genesis of the Lone Ranger, however, the name has passed into pop culture as one who works alone. . . .
From the very beginning, the Lone Ranger was never alone. After his band of Texas Rangers was ambushed, Tonto found him and nursed him back to health. From that point on, Tonto was always at his side, fighting evil wherever it could be found. Tonto bailed him out of trouble time and time again. Tonto did a lot of the grunt work so the Lone Ranger wouldn't have to show his face. Without Tonto, there could be no Lone Ranger.
It's a lot like that for us.
We come to Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings healing and restoration. We grow in our knowledge of Christ through the power of the Spirit. The Spirit sustains us, teaches us, encourages us, strengthens us, etc. What we do is through the power of the Spirit in us. I am crucified in Christ, therefore I no longer live, but Christ lives in me ...
We are not "Lone Rangers." It is not by our strength, intelligence, talent, skill or cleverness that we accomplish His mission. David wrote, "Know you that the Lord He is God; it is He that has made us and not we ourselves."(Psalm 100:3) We are not self-made. We can't do this. Fortunately, He that has begun a good work in us will perfect it.(Phil 1:6) And so, we rely on Him.
"With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." - Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of Independence.)
