Mountaintop

Driving up Pikes Peak, which rises 14,000 feet from the Colorado plain, is one of my memorable experiences in life. The world looks different from the summit! Katherine Lee Bates was so inspired by her trek to the top of that mountain that she penned a poem later set to music that we know as America, the Beautiful.  In August, 2010, Bev and I drove from the West side of the Rocky Mountains to the Plains. ‘Awesome’ is an overworked word, but it is the word.  But, you can’t really live on the mountaintop! The summit at Pikes Peak is a barren place of rock, without vegetation, the air so thin it leaves you dizzy.

Ever had a mountaintop spiritual experience? 

15 of our youth group members went on a missions trip last week. They had a wonderful time.  Serving others was exhilarating. Forgetting themselves for a time charged them up! The closeness of the group, living without cell phones, TV’s, Xbox, and computers, gave them a taste of Heaven. Their excitement spilled out like the clear water of a mountain stream on us as they told of their experience. It was stirring. Ever been there?  I hope you have. We need a trip to the mountaintop periodically to sort out our perspective, to touch the face of God. But, then we have to go home, back to daily living, back to tending the fields, dealing with jobs, relating to people who are not sharing our zeal.

Mountaintop experiences change us, prepare us for the work of living for Christ. We love them, celebrate them; and remember that the Spirit of Lord is as real in the valley as He was on the summit!  The Scripture tells us that "If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting!" (Psalm 139:7-10, The Message)

The Bible records many mountaintop experiences. Moses gazed on the face of God and received the Law on Mt. Sinai. Elijah won a great victory over false gods on Mt. Carmel. Jesus literally glowed with the Presence on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter was so excited by what he was seeing, that he burbled like a kid, “it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Mark 9:5, NIV) But, God told him to listen to Jesus, implying they could not live in that glorious place. It was an experience, just for the moment.

Disciple, whether you’re at the summit, full of awe, renewed by the Spirit or deep in the valley, with shadows all around – the Spirit of the Lord is with you. So, keep step with Him. Live for Him, love Him, and let Him lead.  Here’s a word from the Word. Don’t let familiarity rob the meaning.  

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, NIV)

_______________

I love to sing and I love to pray,

Worship the Lord most every day.

I go to the temple

And I want to stay,

To hide from the hustle

Of the world and its ways and,

I'd love to live on a mountain top,

Fellowshipping with the Lord.

I'd love to stand on a mountain top,

'Cause I love to feel my spirit soar.

But I've got to come down

From the mountain top,

To the people in the valley below.

Or they'll never know

That they can go

To the mountain of the Lord.

Mountain Top

Bannister, Brown

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