Down IN The Valley

Greetings Everyone!
Have you ever climbed to the top of a mountain? My older brother is quite an avid hiker and I have had the privilege of hiking to the top of a few mountains with him. In fact I am looking right now at a photo that was taken of me in 1984 at the top of a mountain I climbed with him called Mt. Elbert. Now that will not mean much to you unless you are also a hiker, if you are then you know that Mt. Elbert is the second highest mountain in the lower 48 states. Mt. Elbert is 14,433 feet above sea level it is second only to Mt. Whitney as the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states of the U.S. Let me say it was quite a thrill to reach the top of that mountain especially considering how out of shape I was at the time.

Well why all this talk about mountains? Well it is not to brag (although I will confess to some pride in the accomplishment) rather it is to make a point. If you have ever been to the top of a mountain even if you reached it without climbing you know it can be an exhilarating experience. It is an awesome sight to look back down over the valley you came from to reach that mountain peak. You get to see all sorts of things you never saw while you were on the valley floor, but guess what? You and I were not made to live on the mountain tops. We visit them for a while, a short while at that and then we go back into the valley where we live out most of our lives.

This same principle holds true for our spiritual lives. In our walk with God we also get to enjoy mountain tops once in a while and they are great aren't they? Isn't it wonderful when your marriage is great, the kids are getting good grades, the bank account is full and the car has no mechanical problems? Oh yes we love those times but you know don't you that before long strife will occur in your marriage, the kids will get a "D" or worse they will funk a class. The bank account will go bankrupt and the car will break down. We all know don't we that it is in these times that we discover just how mature we are in our walk with God. I can be a Great Christian when all is well and life is good, but what am I like when I walk the valley floor? Remember the story of the Mt. of Transfiguration recorded in Mark 9? Peter and John are with Jesus when Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus. Peter being the man of great depth and maturity said (I paraphrase) "Lord, this is awesome!" "Let's build a church and stay here." God then spoke and told Peter to listen to His son, the next thing we see is them going down the mountain where a demon possessed boy needed healing.

I think that story is a reminder to us that we can have wonderful experiences while we are up on the mountains but we are not designed to stay up there but we are designed by God to spend most of our time down in the valleys serving those who need the touch of Jesus that we received while we were up there on those mountain tops. If you are on a mountain top today I encourage you to enjoy the experience but to remember that this is not where God wants you to stay. Take the joy and encouragement His gives you while you are up there and share it with those who are down in the valley. If you are in the valley now and you are in a difficult period then I encourage you to remember what you saw on your last mountain top. Remember what it was like to look back over those things you couldn't see when you were in the valley. Remember how God was faithful to you, remember how He lead you through and remember He will lead you through again.

Let me stress just one more thing. God will lead you through but He will not lead you out. We want "out" of our valleys but God wants to lead us through" because it is going through them that grows us and makes us more effective in service to our Lord.

God Bless You!
Pastor Sheldon