God on the Mountain

A winding road leads to the top of Pike’s Peak, a summit towering 14,110 feet above sea level! My ‘climb’ involved a couple of hours driving and still I felt a sense of accomplishment! What must those who walk to the top feel? When I stood looking down at the plains to the east and turned to gaze at the Rocky Mountain peaks to the west, it felt like I was literally ‘on top of the world.’  I felt a natural ‘high,’ no pun intended!

Walking with Christ involves climbing mountains.  Peaks rise menacingly, filling the horizon; sometimes inviting us to adventure, other times almost daring us to start to climb.  People who are climbing those mountains wonder:

·         Will I ever complete this degree?

·         Can I keep going in this marriage?

·         Will this teenager I’m parenting ever grow out of his dysfunctional behavior?

·         Will I gain victory over that habit that seems to overpower me from time to time?  

·         Will I get better or should it be the end, will I face death with hope and faith?

Here’s what I know:  when the Lord leads us to a mountain, there are new perspectives to be gained, new understanding of ourselves, of our world, and of His grace. Do we always know what His purpose is? No, we don’t and so we push forward, singing, “Oh, for grace to trust Him more.”

God summoned Moses to the mountain. It was not see the sights or take a hike! There was a revelation waiting. "Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights." (Exodus 24:15-18, NLT) There, in God’s Presence, Moses received the Law, the plan for the Tabernacle which was the center of Israel’s worship, revelations great and wonderful. He was a changed man after his ascent to the top of Mt. Sinai.

John, too, found a whole new point of view on a mountain! "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." (Revelation 21:10-11, NIV) From the height of his visionary mountain, John wrote of the disciple’s great hope, the promise of God’s victory over sin and suffering in a book that has encouraged and intrigued Christians for two millennia- The Revelation of Jesus Christ!

In the classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory about our journey to the Celestial City, John Bunyan wrote of the Delectable Mountains that afford the pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, a view of their final destination. His insight is clear and instructs us well. From the heights of the mountains we have to climb along the way, we catch glimpses of God’s glory that draw us along.

Are you living in the shadows of the valley right now?
Does some peak stand ahead of you, daring you to scale its heights?
Or are you in the climb, feeling exhausted; seeing only more difficulty as you look ahead?

Keep climbing!  God gives strength to those who call on Him. Walk it out, faithful just for today, if that’s all you can do. There will be revelation waiting at the summit!  Here’s  a word from the Word. It’s a promise for those climbing life’s mountains.

"A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-6, NIV)

Bloodied Knees Bring Greater Blessings?

In the towns I visited in Ecuador, I often saw people crawling across rough stone pavement, up stone steps, and across the splintery wooden floor to kneel at the church’s altar.  Their knees were often bloodied by the exercise. Somehow they felt that their suffering was pleasing to God, that it would bring them divine favor. What a tragic misunderstanding of the nature of our Heavenly Father. While you won’t find many Americans crawling to a church’s altar, they feel much the same about God, that He must be appeased, that His favor must be earned.

Do you feel that your prayers find a more ready answer when you can look back over a stretch of time in which there are no ‘major’ sins in memory?
In times of crisis, are you prone to play ‘let’s make a deal’ with God, offering Him more time, more service, or more money in return for a blessing?

The basis of our hope in God for daily care and eternal salvation rests on Christ and His work on our behalf. The Bible calls it an ‘imputed’ grace! It runs counter to the normal human experience in which greater effort produces greater reward. It can difficult to abandon our efforts to trust Him fully. Yet, that is what the Word teaches us to do. "Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)

Confidence in Christ is not to be confused with arrogance before our Father. The grace of God is no excuse for lack of reverence. There is a cheap pseudo-grace to which some cling who have misunderstood the Gospel as much as those with bloodied knees. The Word describes them "godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 4, NIV)  Real faith only deepens awe. Awe takes away self-confidence and love grows which teaches us rely on God, to walk with Him, and to bring our lives into alignment with His purpose.

My earliest experience of Christianity was something like that of those who crawl to God. I thought that He was distant, angry, and bent on my destruction, restrained only by Jesus. In great brokenness, the Spirit caused me to re-examine the Scripture and what I saw in the Gospel of Christ was amazing, graceful, and liberating. For a while, I slipped into an extreme kind of liberty. I was a teenager who begins to realize that his Dad is just human and tries out treating him like a buddy. With time, the Lord brought maturity, restored proper awe without terror and let me discover the joy of holy living. This time, however, the holiness was not self-generated nor was it shaped around earning a blessing! It was an expression worshipful devotion to the One who loved me even when I was unlovely.

Disciple, do you somehow think that bloody knees bring greater blessing? Hear the challenge of the Word and trust the grace of God.

"Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not!

You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
 (Galatians 3:1-6, NLT)

A Performance Worthy of an Oscar

The Academy Awards recognizes the best in the world of film. It’s a big night in Hollywood, appropriately full of glitz and glamour. Winners gush, “I want to thank my director, my producer, my loving wife …” while losers force a smile as the TV cameras zoom in. Their craft is about creating an illusion, playing a role, drawing us into a story for a couple of hours. In the end, however, it is a performance. The lights come on and we go back to the real world.

Is your practice of Christianity worthy of an Oscar, a great performance, but only that? Are you putting on a show, setting the stage with props, learning lines written by others? Or, are you living in the real world in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ?  He knows the craving for approval that is everyone of us, so He warns - “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get." (Matthew 6:1-3, The Message)

Authentic disciples are the same when the whole world is looking on and when they are alone in their room. That’s integrity! Christians who are real sleep easily and fear nothing. To be sure, they may not gain the same kind of approval that those who wear masks enjoy for a time. It’s relatively easy to play the role of a devoted follower of Christ for a couple of hours on Sunday morning compared to walking in faith each day of the week. Real Christians don’t hide their failures or play up their successes. They don’t need makeup artists or image consultants. The only One they seek to please knows them inside out!

There will be an awards ceremony for all of us. Heaven’s awards won’t be for the best actors. They will be offered to each and every faithful disciple. "God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming." (2 Timothy 4:8, The Message) What a glorious Day around the Throne of God. What could compare to receiving the commendation of Christ?  Now, that’s an award worth living for!

Here is the word from the Word. This passage scares actors to death, but comforts those with integrity. I hope it’s a powerful promise for you that keeps you real.
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:12-13, NLT)

Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?

Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?

Fear can serve us well. A young man I knew died in a car accident, at least in part, because he chose not to wear his seatbelt. His overconfidence contributed to a fatal accident. A friend fell into immorality and was part of the destruction of two marriages because he did not respect the power of his desires, mistakenly believing he could flirt without falling into sin! He boasted of his strength of faith and character. Several months later, he left his family for his lover. There is encouragement and warning in this passage. "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, NIV)  Have a healthy respect for the spiritual dangers that lurk just around the corner, but don’t be paralyzed with fear because God has a plan.

One of God’s blessings is allowing difficulties that cause us to realize our dependence on Him. We have a few good days and a subtle deception slips into our mind that we have it all under control, that we are ready to fly solo. But, we are not! I parent three teenage boys who do not understand why I insist on knowing what they are up to. They don’t even know what they do not know about life! Our Abba loves us like that. He cares about us, not because He wants to control us, but because His desire is to guide us to rich, full lives.  A familiar proverb is one we should relearn and keep in mind. "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:7, NLT)

God’s kids need not be timid or fearful of life itself. There are plenty of threats around. War, sickness, and financial ruin are very real. In my lifetime, I have never known a time of greater uncertainty about the future.  But, I will not be afraid of those things. If I allow myself to become anxious about tomorrow, the healthy fear of the Lord will be eclipsed by a debilitating kind of fear.  This passage resonates with me today.  "The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary." (Isaiah 8:11-14, NIV)  

Disciple, are you fearful?
Is it a healthy fear of the Lord or a sickening dread of ‘what if’ in this life?

Meditate on this Psalm for a few moments today. Let the truth reorient you to the fear of the Lord and in it, may you find great peace.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." (Psalm 27:1-5, NIV)

My Heart Ripped Out

The news hour opened with a picture child killed by artillery shells fired into the heart of a Syrian city. The mother was screaming her anguish at no one in particular. The civil war there has gone from simmer to full boil. The next story was about Iran’s development of nuclear weaponry and the threat Israel was making to use military strikes to stop it. If that happens, thousands will die! A friend wrote about a woman and her newborn baby left to die after a botched C-section delivery in a poor, developing nation. Then there was the report of the despair in American cities where a young black man is much more likely to graduate from prison than from college. And I sat in the comfort of my living room, watching it all on flat screen TV.  Evil flourishes, demons rejoice, people suffer! It is the first day of the Lenten season and I am called to reflection and repentance. To escape into the isolation of my suburban home, to let myself think, “it’s not my problem,” is a sin against humanity and my God.

The prophet Joel was moved by the Spirit. “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." (Joel 2:12-13, NIV) Who wants to let their heart be ripped out by the suffering of this world? If we allow ourselves to see it and to be moved by it, we are compelled to become active agents in the service of our King.

The first choice in the war on sin is our own transformation! “Return to Me,” He says. How? Not like the Pharisee who proudly prayed his own self-righteousness, thanking God that he was not like the ordinary sinners among whom he had to live. Rather we return to Him our hearts torn up, well aware of our own sins. Humility does not come easy to us. We want to justify our greed, sensuality, and indulgence of ourselves. We want to excuse our failure to serve, to keep our hope centered on Christ and the promise of eternal life. “Rip your heart out,” God roars! “Feel the pain, look at the ugliness.”  Only then does the depth of His grace start to become apparent. When we have tasted forgiveness and been filled with His goodness, we gain a new heart, that of a warrior who defeats evil with love modeled on that which brought Christ Jesus to give Himself.  

Joel reminds us that "Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the Lord will soon arrive. … The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel." (Joel 3:14, 16, NLT) 

Will you rise up to join His army? 

Will you join the divine conspiracy to save the world by costly, sacrificial love? 

Start with your own heart. Let it be conquered by the King, every sin, every rebellious act, confessed and surrendered to Him. Then, make love your aim, starting at home, dying to Self, serving with joy. He’ll lead you from there.

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8, NIV)

________

I’m pleading my innocence here
Exposing my arrogance all the while
Hoping that nobody sees
Especially You

I've yielded to all that has cost me
And thrown to the side what is free
And I’m lying if I say that I've figured it out

But maybe this time
The bread and the wine
Will be more than food on my lips

I’m tasting forgiveness
And drinking of mercy
I feast on redemption
Tasting forgiveness

Tasting Forgiveness :

Copyright – Robbie Seay