Good morning beloved in the Lord. Without struggle, there is no strength. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
There are times in our lives that we experience mountaintop blessings. Though we may not have been on the mountaintop literally we can experience it just the same. Mountains awaken in us the instinct for heaven. Mountains have made us marvel at the majesty of God’s creation all through history. Mountains force the thought of God upon you. I found this to be very true as I gazed out the passenger window on a trip one year. Off in the distance, I could see mountains of all sizes. The first thing that came to mind was how magnificent God is and how He formed such beauty out of nothing. It was a hypnotizing view. At times it looked as if I was riding through valleys among the mountains.
God has done some wonderful things on mountaintops. On Mount Sinai, where Moses hid behind a rock when the glory of God passed by, and God etched the Ten Commandments on stone (Exodus 20). On a mountaintop, the King of kings was transfigured and revealed His glory (Matthew 17). From the Mount of Olives, Jesus ascended after the resurrection (Acts 1:6-11). Jesus preached His most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, on a mountaintop. He was heading for the mountaintop experience that makes all other mountaintop experiences possible, and that was the cross. Jesus did not die in a valley but on a hill. It was a hill we call Mt. Calvary, which was the Mt. Everest of Sacred Mountains.
But just as Jesus did not die in a valley, He did give us valley experiences that made us look to the hills which cometh our help. This is why scripture tells “yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” We all intensely dependent upon God as we walked through. One would think that the best view comes from the top of the mountain. God needs people in the valley with a mountaintop heart. Because in the view from the valley, you really can see God and the essence of life more clearly in the valleys. Why am I talking about the valleys in life so much these last few days? It’s because we all have them but I want to encourage someone, to let them know that our valleys are good sometimes. We learn a lot in the valleys of life. Not all lessons are learned in the valley, but it sure seems like the most profound times of growth are found there. Valleys are where significant battles of faith are fought. And either won or lost.
It seems that the soil in some valleys is more fertile. And we know from Jesus’ teachings, the soil is the key to growth. But life would be boring and without dimension, if our journey only involved pushing on through one valley after another. God doesn’t just leave us in valleys. He also gives us mountaintop experiences to enjoy. God wants men and women to match His mountain. Mountains are good for raising strong people. God raised Moses on a mountaintop of Mt. Sinai and he came down with the Ten Commandments. From that mountain, God gave to His people the Law to keep them stable in all their relationships of life. The mountaintop experience enables the believer to remain stable when they reach low points in their life. Jesus died on a mountaintop, this was the greatest of all mountaintop experiences.
Jesus visited the mountain, but He spent most of His time in the valley with hurting people, and so should we. It’s so wonderful to gather and worship and praise Jesus. Every Sunday is a mountaintop experience for me but for the other six days of the week, God sends us out into the valley: in our homes, our neighborhoods, our jobs where we find hurting people who desperately need what Jesus has to offer. We need to love them and accept them and introduce them to Jesus. Often we experience overwhelming trials in the valley immediately after a mountaintop experience!
Where are you today in your journey? Are you climbing to experience that mountaintop? Are you in the valley? Regardless of whether it’s a valley or a mountain top or in between, are you surrendering to the One Who made both? If God blesses you with a mountaintop experience what are you going to do with it? What is it God wants to work out in your life from these experiences? Have you had some mountaintop experiences?
Live life, give people hope and share your heart, wisdom, and resources. Never place a period where God says there should be a comma.
As always peace and blessings, be safe. Remember God loves you and so do I. ©krw 1.19.17
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