Saturday, February 14, 2015
Mountain Top Experiences
I grew up going to church camps, youth retreats, etc. What happens when you grow up like this is you end up on this Mountain Top Cycle. It looks like this. You go to camp, get fired up, come home, feelings wear off, you get discouraged, go to next event, repeat. We even refered to these events as "mountain top experiences".
The problem was I grew up in Western North Carolina. The mountains top out at 6,000 ft and most are between two and three thousand feet. They are full of big beautiful trees and lush grass. In the fall the trees change to a magnificant rainbow of rich colors. Mountain tops were beautiful places full of life.
Several years ago I moved to Colorado and started learning more about mountains. Just recently I was sitting up on a real mountain and having a mountain top experience. I was enjoying a closeness with God, building great relationships with other men, and enjoying some great teaching. Things became very clear to me as I sat on a rock and looking at some of the amazing mountain tops around me. You see, the mountains in Colorado are much higher. When you get above 10,000 feet (the timberline) there are not big beautiful trees. In fact when you get that high very little growth happens at all. However, when you are up that high everything below seems green and beautiful. The views are amazing and you can see a very long way.
So, when it comes to Mountain Top Experiences, it is clear to see what is happening when you compare it to the Rocky Mountains. No real growth happens when you are on top of the mountain. All the real growth happens in the valley. The view is amazing from the mountain tops, but in all reality, living in that environment would be very difficult. It is good to be on the mountain top to gain a new perspective of the world around you, but eventually you will want to come down and get back to life where real growth can happen.
In Matthew 17 we see three of Jesus' disciples having a mountain top experience.
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:1-5 NIV)
So what happens? Jesus takes these three up a mountin. Amazing things happen. They want to build shelters and stay. This is what we often want to do. We do not want to go back down the mountain. Instead, God speaks, encourages, and then sends them back down the mountain. What do they find at the bottom of the mountain? They find a battle with religious people who want to stir up doubt, a run in with some demons, and a fight at church. Do you think those three were longing to return up the mountain, hear from God some more and hang out with dead prophets? You bet they were! In fact a few verses later we have Jesus saying, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. ” (Matthew 17:20 NIV)
God does not call us to live on the mountain. He calls us to go in the valley and experience His presence in our day to day lives. I love going to the mountains, literally and metaphorically. However, I have learned that God has designed things and me to grow in the valley.
(If you like what you read on Through My Eyes, please share with others)
No comments:
Post a Comment