On a sunny afternoon about two years ago, I found myself up on a flat ledge atop Cheaha Mountain watching the sunset with my family. I’d like to describe the scene as best I can, and hope that you feel the serenity that I felt that afternoon.
We were higher than the treetops. The sky was clear. Eagles were soaring in the distance to my right, and the sound of birds calling to one another could be heard on my left.
The breeze blowing on our faces was cool and refreshing at that altitude. That gigantic ball of light was now orange as it moved closer and closer to that point where it kisses the horizon. The sky was beautiful shades of orange and azure, and the clouds were pink hovering above the horizon.
The panoramic view was breathtaking, and I could see for miles. As we sat there in silence, I could feel God’s presence, and I was enjoying His creation not only with my eyes but also with my very being.
We sat there until dusk settled upon us, no one speaking. The Lord was in His heavens and all was at peace in my world.
I was at a Singles Retreat at Blue Lake Methodist Campgrounds in September 2006 when the Lord spoke into my spirit one morning after my quiet time with Him. If we will sit before the Lord and wait upon Him after our prayer time, the Holy Spirit will speak into our spirit.
And that morning, I was “waiting upon the Lord.” As I walked back up the embankment toward the dormitory, The Lord spoke these words to me, “I will give you a new song in the land of the living.” Two months later He called me into the ministry.
Perhaps you, too, have had mountaintop experiences. Pastor Bill had a mountaintop experience when he led a lady from France to the Lord.
He has just discovered “Facebook” on the computer, and has been enjoying interchanges with former classmates of Bessemer High School, graduating class of ’71. Words of encouragement have come forth in the sharing of what a positive influence he was on their lives.
A mountaintop experience shared by Mark is the joy he sees on every child’s face as he sings and plays his music for them. It’s such a delight to watch Connie grins from ear to ear when his little grandchildren come running up to him, yelling, “Poppy, Poppy, Poppy!”
Peter, James and John had a mountaintop experience with Jesus at the Lord’s Transfiguration.
Go with me to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 9, verses 28-36 and follow along. There are many parallels between Moses going up the mountain to be with God and Jesus going up the mountain to pray the night before He was to descend the mountain, His eyes fixed on Jerusalem, to suffer at the hands of the religious leaders for all of us.
Moses in Exodus 24 took three men with him up the mountain; Jesus took Peter, James, and John. One of the men who went up the mountain with Moses was Joshua, a type of Jesus in the Old Testament.
Moses’ face shone because it was a reflection of the presence of God; Jesus’ face shone of Himself, and his clothing was glistening white because He was God!
An audible voice from heaven spoke to Peter and said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Hear him.” An audible voice from heaven spoke at Jesus’ baptism and said, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
Mountaintop experiences? Yes, but it is always preparation for the walk through the valley of life that follows the descent from the mountain. The presence of Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration of Jesus was to share with Him the course that lay before him, and to prepare Him for his suffering in Jerusalem at the hands of the religious leaders.
The Word says that Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem to fulfill the destiny for which he came to this earth. Moses was the great salvation for God’s people in the Old Testament; Jesus is the great salvation for ALL people in the New Testament. Down in the valley he must suffer greatly at the hands of the chief priest and the scribes...and to be killed...but to rise on the third day!
We have mountaintop experiences to prepare us to walk in the valley of life with faith and confidence in the Lord. King David said in Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because the Lord is my shepherd.” In Romans 8:39, the apostle Paul writes, “In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God’s mercy and grace are new every morning; just ask Him! In the poem, “Footprints,” when you see only one set of footprints, know that Jesus is carrying you at that moment in time.
Just imagine the confidence we can have in Christ Jesus. Yes, we can go to the mountain, but to be renewed to walk through the valley of life.
Just imagine the faith in Christ Jesus we all are given at our salvation when we call out to God, He hears us! When we look up, God looks down! When we reach up, God reaches down! When we give up, God can take over!
Our challenge then is to take God at His word. For faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The Word of God is truth; walk ye in it with Him.
Amen? Amen.
— Rev. Barbara H. Thrasher, Associate Pastor, Ebenezer UMC
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