Spiritual Mountain Climbing

I really enjoy a good, soul inspiring moment from time to time. You know, when God seems to show up big time, not the wee small voice, but the booming thunder that announces He has done, or is about to do something big. Ah, the anointing, the tingles, the refreshing breeze generated by the Spirit....love it--love it--love it. Give me more, I say! In fact, I relish those moments of impact. But the problem is, they are just moments, periods within time that come and go. Why?

As I ponder the question, I am reminded that I once hiked up a mountain. I climbed a volcano in Costa Rica too, but it was only about 3000 feet tall and doesn't count. I'm talking about the real thing...the genuine article... I climbed my way up Mount Evans in the Colorado Rockies. We're talking fourteen thousand feet at the summit. I never actually got to the top, but I gave it a good, out-of-shape attempt. Though I failed, recounting the experience helps me to understand when real growth occurs...growth of character, spiritual maturity, and faith. To put it simply, the greatest moments of inspiration, the tingling, the overwhelming sense of rest and presence occur on the summit...or shall I say summits. You see, when one is journeying up a mountain, there are several points of accomplishment, points that are reached that allow one to feel the exhilaration of being blessed. Let's call them mini-summits. You get to one and wow, the vista is great. God feels close. Rest and recuperation flow. Joy is present. New goals are set. Encouragement to continue is gained. Then you move on to the next.

Now, in my experience, my muscles were never exercised and strengthened while standing on a mini-summit. My lung capacity wasn't expanded. The toxins were not purged from my body. I never had to push myself while standing on a mini-summit, and my climbing effort was never challenged while I was enjoying the panorama. Nope, the real work takes place while your feet are plodding, your head is bowed in the effort of the climb, and your back is bent against the incline. Health happens when you are sweating, and moving, and panting, yet you keep climbing.

Okay, you get it. Growth doesn't happen on the summit. Character is developed on the climb. Faith grows by forging upward in obedience. Christ likeness is refined by pushing through the pain of the climb. But God is so full of grace and encouragement, that he places one of those mini-summits along the trail at just the right time. He allows us to stop and drink, to get sight of the real goal, the ultimate summit of eternity. He gives us a refreshing breeze and the bread of life. Then, it's time to plod onward and upward in the drudgery of the climb.

If you're on one of the more difficult sections of the trail where rocks trip you up and the incline slows you down, don't stop moving upward. Don't give up. Don't worry about speed. Just keep going. A mini-summit will appear, and you'll be restored to one of those fantastic moments of exhilarating and praise. Believe it or not, you are growing by climbing. Plod on dear friend.
Pastor Jim