Going up?

You ever go out jogging and realize how much you can't stand hills and running up them? Gravity sure is a pain when you are trying to ascend the inclines. But on the other hand, running downhill sure is easy and gravity becomes your best friend because you can go about twice as fast and use up a lot less energy.

Adam really got me thinking last week when he mentioned something to me about the references to climbing in the Bible. Not only climbing, but climbing the mountain of God. Most of the references in the Bible to it are about Moses going to meet and talk with God. He received incredible insight there, learning the law, receiving the 10 commandments, and possibly even writing some of the books of the Bible (that's a theory). Figuratively, getting to the top of the mountain means getting as close and as intimate with God as possible. Jesus also went to the mountain many times. He gave the most famous sermon in history on the mountain, was transfigured with Moses and Elijah in front Peter, James and John there, and it's where He was right before the triumphal entry. And of course, according to Zechariah 14, Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives facing Jerusalem in the final day. The list of mountain references in the Bible is seemingly countless and some major events took place there.

But what jumps out at me is how climbing the figurative mountain of God is such a long, uphill journey, while the decent toward sin is a rapid one that snow balls quickly. It's like that in so many things. You want a promotion? Better work hard, get more education and pay your dues. You want to get fired. No problem! You want to get in shape? You've got to work out, eat right, make sacrifices. You want to let yourself go? Eat some more hamburgers and ice cream! Think to when you were in high school and how hard it was to invite a friend to church. But inviting a girl somewhere you know you shouldn't be...no problem at all. All the while we try to move upwards toward God, Satan is holding on to the back of our pants, blocking our path with stones and slowing us down at all costs. Then, when we get tired, take a break or think we can't go any further up that mountain, THAT'S when Satan shoves us just a bit, making us lose our balance, and we go tumbling head over heels down the slope in a hurry. It takes a while to make uphill progress, but no time at all for things to go totally wrong.

There are plenty of Biblical examples, as well. Peter was a faithful servant, the Rock. He said he would never deny Jesus. But one little slip up and all of a sudden he had denied Him three times. Quite a tumble for Peter. It happened to Moses too. He went through all kinds of struggles bringing the children out of Egypt. He got as close to God as any ever has, but one slip of him not trusting God and he was kept out of the Promised Land. David was the same way. He was a great man in God's eyes, but he had eyes for Bathsheba and not only did he commit adultery, he sentenced Uriah to death. Just another slip in a long climb toward a complete relationship with God.

I know, it looks bleak. Some of the greatest men in history couldn't climb the mountain without a trip or a stumble, so how am I supposed to? Well, it doesn't really matter if you take a spill every now as long as you keep pushing onward. The other great thing is this. When you are running a treadmill and want a good work out, you put it on an incline. That helps you get in shape and makes you stronger. It's the same way with our walk with Christ. If we are walking on a flat piece of land, we aren't getting any better. And if we are moving downhill...not good. Moving upward, while difficult strengthens us because we have to trust that God will reach His hand to us when Satan starts tugging at our pant leg. We have to rely on the Word to climb over obstacles that will surely stand in our way.

Here's something else that makes the climb easier. Many times, we relate climbing a mountain to conquering something, becoming king of the hill. Don't explorers try to CONQUER Everest? Or when the marines win a battle, don't they plant the flag on the highest building or the top of the mountain? Well, the great news for us is that we have NOTHING to conquer, because Jesus has already done it! He died and rose again, defeating death forever, and all we have to do is press on up the mountain, trusting that Jesus is the savior and that God is constantly helping us along.

And best of all, when we do get to the top of the mountain, we'll never, ever have to descend.