CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN

A Journey of Faith and Dedication

Introduction: Here in the Western Cape, we are almost surrounded by mountains, and you get used to them so quickly. I feel safer between the mountains, but also see the challenges when one must travel around, over, or through them. This also reminds me of our spiritual journey - sometimes it feels like we will never reach the end goal, but with perseverance and faith, we will eventually see the fruits of our labor.

Mountains in the Bible: The Bible often uses mountains as symbolic places of revelation, encounter, and spiritual growth. Let's look at a few remarkable examples:

• Abraham: Abraham's faith was tested on the mountain when he was willing to offer his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2-14). His trust in God carried him through the greatest challenge. This is a powerful reminder that we also need to trust our faith, even in the most impossible situations. God is faithful and will provide, just as He did for Abraham.

• Moses: On Mount Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 19-20). These events affirmed God's guidance and love for His people. It reminds us that we also need to seek places of encounter in our lives where we can become still and listen to God's voice.

• Elijah: Elijah experienced God's power on Mount Carmel, where he defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Amid false prophets and doubt, Elijah trusted in God, and God did not disappoint him. Fire from heaven came down and consumed the offering, proving God's power. This story encourages us to trust in God, even when we face great challenges.

• Jesus: The Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain revealed His divine nature to His disciples and confirmed His identity as the Son of God (Mark 9:2-8). The disciples caught a glimpse of His true glory and divinity. It was a confirmation of everything He had taught and done. We are also invited to seek these moments of divine revelation in our lives, where we can gain deeper insight into Jesus' true nature.

Mountains as Spiritual Testing: The mountains we encounter in life are not just physical challenges but also spiritual tests. Joshua and Caleb faced enormous obstacles when they had to take the Promised Land. They did not retreat but proceeded with faith and courage. This example inspires us to approach our own 'mountains' with the same determination, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.

Mountains as Transition Points: Mountains are not just places of encounter with God but also places where we are called to step out of our comfort zone and face challenges. This calling to climb the mountains, rather than carry them, is a life-changing adventure that brings us closer to God. Now that we have identified the importance of mountains for God in the Bible and our lives, let us now look at how we can embrace this calling and climb the mountains before us.

Mountains as Challenges: Joshua's story and the challenges he and the Israelites faced during the conquest of Jericho offer many inspiring examples for our lives today. It shows us how we need to trust in God to overcome the mountains in our lives.

I want to start with the great challenge that the people faced when they had to take the city of Jericho. Jericho was a fortified city with high walls, and it seemed an impossible task to conquer it. Instead of relying on their own strategies, Joshua followed the Lord's command. This week, I saw a video where someone tried to convey the message of how it might have felt when the Lord told Joshua to walk around the city for seven days and then simply shout at the walls! I am sure Joshua had doubts about this command and had to keep repeating in his mind: “Be strong and courageous!” Just think how it must have sounded when he perhaps spoke with his army officers and they questioned the plan. “We're going to shout at the city?!” “When the Lord says shout, we must shout loud?!”

Caleb was in the team. He had explored the land with Joshua, and when the other ten returned with stories of strong cities, high walls, and gigantic soldiers, Caleb quieted everyone and said: “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Much later in the book of Joshua, Caleb insisted, at the age of 85, on taking the challenging hill country, and he did so with full confidence that God would give him the strength to succeed. I often use this example for people who might feel old and weary. The mountain remains a challenge until we begin to take it. The walls seem strong, high, and unbreakable until the Lord commands us to start shouting at them!

Mountains – A Calling and Opportunity to Grow: It has become time for us to start looking at mountains in our lives differently. Mountains in the Christian life symbolize a calling and an opportunity for growth. Just like mountain climbers who face the challenges of a mountain to reach the summit, we are called to tackle spiritual challenges and strengthen our trust in God. Caleb's story shows the conquest of mountains as a journey of faith. His trust in God enabled him to take the hill country that God had promised him, even at an older age. Once he started climbing, he couldn't just give up. He had to keep climbing. Even descending would have required effort.

Carrying My Burdens... I want to quickly talk to you about two alternative outlooks and possible options:

1. Carry Your Mountain: Life can be full of burdens, worries, and problems, but it is our calling to carry and deal with these challenges. Sometimes we look at our circumstances and accept that it is our fate. I see these incredibly large mountains in our lives, and then we think that the Lord expects us to carry our own burdens. Pick up the mountain and carry it around! How many people have you seen doing this? And how many of them have ever been successful with it? We can't carry our mountains; they are meant to be climbed, or in option 2, Jesus shows us an even better way.

2. Speak to Your Mountain: Jesus' words in Mark 11:23 when He says: “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” teach us that we have the power to simply speak to our "mountains" and remove them. These "mountains" can be any obstacles in our lives, and through faith and certainty in our hearts, we can overcome these challenges. It's not just about speaking words but about the faith that God is with us and will help us achieve victory.

Conclusion: Life is a journey full of mountains to climb, but we can find comfort in knowing that God is always with us to guide and support us. Like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, we are called to trust our faith in God and face the challenges ahead. When we encounter the mountains in our lives, we must remember that they are not just physical challenges but also spiritual opportunities for growth and renewal. Let us approach every mountain with courage and faith, knowing that God will help us reach the summit.