[418 words]
Although I was born and bred in central Illinois, I love the mountains. I love the thought of them, I love their grandeur, and I love the way they majestically and seemingly endlessly march in procession as far as the eye can see.
Maybe there is something about mountains and their connection to God that has drawn people to them, just as people have been drawn to rainbows and their connection to God. The very dwelling place of God Himself is Heaven, and this dwelling place is described as being of the mountains.
The psalmist declared, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole Earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:1-2).
Jesus often retreated to the mountains to spend time with His Father. “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone,” we learn in Matthew 14:23.
Climbing the mountain of God is what our Christian walk of faith is all about. It is a steep climb that can seem at times to be dangerous as the storms of life assail us. Our God will shelter us during these times of storm, just as His word promises. Psalm 61:3 tells us, “For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Just as the mountains of God offered protection to the city of Jerusalem, God is also described as offering protection to His people in this manner: “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever” (Psalm 125:2).
Yes, mountains are so awesome and breathtaking to behold, but they are not our salvation. Our salvation is from the Rock, Jesus Christ. Whatever you may be dealing with, you may just need to climb up to spend time with the Lord. God wants us to learn to climb to the top and focus every aspect of our life on His will. Let us take out some time this weekend to try it! “From the end of the Earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).
May the Lord bless you and your family today!
David R. Ferguson
Mentor church of Christ
Mentor, OH