A few months ago, I drove up to the top of Pike’s
Peak to stand and take in the view from that peak at 14,110 feet above
sea level! To the east, the Great Plains lay like a tabletop. To the west, the Rocky
Mountain peaks poke into the sky. Standing on top of a mountain like that is a natural
‘high,’ no pun intended! My ‘climb’ involved a couple of hours driving and
still I felt a sense of accomplishment. Looking at that mountain from the foot
and the view at the top produce completely different emotions – at one moment overwhelming,
in another exhilarated.
As we walk with the Lord, we will find
ourselves looking at peaks that rise menacingly, filling the horizon, daring us
to try to find a way forward. Working toward that degree can be daunting. Rebuilding
a life after loss to death can be a steep climb. Dealing with chronic illness,
day in and day out, can be like climbing an endless trail up a steep slope. Ah,
yes, there are so many ways that we face mountains. But, if we press on, if we
hold onto faith in the power of God, when we have reached the summit, what a shift
we find in understanding.
In Exodus,
I read about a man facing a mountain. God invited Moses to come to meet
Him at the summit. "Then 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, was carried to a mountain where he gained new perspective! "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?
John, too, was carried to a mountain where he gained new perspective! "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! New vistas will
appear when you get to the summit!
The word from the Word is a prayer for those
climbing steep trails today. Whatever your challenge, whatever your fear, make
this your prayer. "I am praying to
you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show
me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. You save with your strength those who
seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the
shadow of your wings." (Psalm 17:6-8, NLT)
"It
is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet
like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights."
(Psalm 18:32-33, NIV)
__________
__________
(worship with this song about His love)
Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
One thing remains
One thing remains
Your love never fails
It never gives up
Never runs out on me
Your love
On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid
One thing remains
One thing remains
In death in life I'm confident and
Cover'd by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid there's nothing that
Can separate my heart from Your great love
Brian Johnson | Christa Black Gifford | Jeremy
Riddle
© 2010 ChristaJoy Music Publishing (Admin. by
Bethel Music Publishing)
Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by
Vineyard Music USA)
Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License # 810055
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