THE WORD 4 ev 1

Read Mark 9 (click here for link)

“After six days, Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.” Mark 9:2

We have all had times on the mountain, when we have seen things from God's point of view and have wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there. Never! It must be the way of things, because the true test of our spiritual life is strength in the valley. For sure, it is a great thing to be on the mountain with God, but our lives are lived beneath the mountain, among the devil-possessed (which is the entire world); it is our work to lift them up—to bring them to the vision of God we have seen.

Oswald Chambers wrote: “We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle.”

I think Chambers got it right. Remember, what Jesus said yesterday in our reading, that whoever would be his disciple “must deny himself and bear up his cross and follow me.” Notice his remark about “denying” oneself. Spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mount. We feel as though we cannot go on unless we receive some mountaintop clarity. We believe we could talk like angels and live like angels, if only we could stay near the clouds. Indeed, such times are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but they are meant to be like the energy drink before the final sprint—eventually we are going to have to start running!

In this morning’s text, Peter thought it would be a fine thing for them to remain on the mount, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain into the valley, the place where the purpose of the vision is run out.

“…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Mark 9:22

It takes the valley to root the skepticism out of us. Look back at your own experience, and you will find that until you learned “who” Jesus was (really saw his power for you), you were a bit doubtful about His power. After all, how many of us believe that the miracles we read in scriptures are not really for us? But then we receive a mountaintop vision; God does something amazing for you. You believe! But how long does it last?

It is easy to believe just about anything when you are up on the mountain, but what about the times when you are up against the hard facts of life in the valley? It is hard to testify to the mountain vision when we are bearing the burden or humiliation of a cross down in the valley. So hang on to those mountaintop memories. The God who has been faithful will be faithful still. He is with you in the valley too, but he is teaching you the power of the cross.

The last time you were on the mount with God, you saw that all power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus - will you be skeptical now in the valley?

Perhaps we find the prayer, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief,” a familiar one.

Pastor Aaron