Coming Down the Mountain

Our church's men's retreat last week was awesome. Many were impacted and inspired to live for Jesus at home, at church, and out in the world. It was a true mountaintop experience for many.

On one hand, we are excited to get back to "real life" because we believe that things will be different this time. The hope within us creates mental images of how things could be. On the other hand, we enjoy what God did on the mountaintop and do not want to come down. If it were possible, we would love to stay on the mountaintop a bit longer.

When our "mountaintop" experience confronts the reality of life, maintaining the fire inside is a challenge. As a result, many try hard to re-create the mountaintop experience over pursuing Jesus, which leaves us empty inside.

We often find ourselves asking, "now what?"

Matthew 17.1-13 tells what is probably the greatest mountaintop experience ever. Jesus took Peter, James and John to the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus transfigured before them. His face shined like the sun and His garments became white as light. In addition, Moses and the prophet Elijah appeared before them.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Peter, James and John?

Israelites for hundreds of years grew up hearing about Elijah's life and were made to understand that he was one of Israel's greatest prophets. Moses was revered for being Israel's greatest leader. Israelites also grew up learning how Moses led them out of Egypt 1500 years earlier and that he was the man God used to write their Laws.

I do not think we can grasp the magnititude of what it was like to have seen Jesus transfigured while, at the same time, meeting Elijah and Moses in person. 

To top off their experience on the mountain, Peter, James and John heard God say, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" How awesome is that? They heard God's audible voice. Our highest highs in our present-day worship cannot compare to this. 

Peter was so impacted by the entire experience that he said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Matthew 17.4 NASB)

Jesus did not grant Peter's request because the experience on the mountain was not the goal. The purpose of Jesus revealing His glory to Peter, James and John was to help them grow in their relationship with God, grow in wisdom and knowledge of God, and inspire them to do greater work for God. 

The experience on the Mount of Transfiguration was not a call to stay on the mountain but a call to go back down. Although they may not have understood it at the time, the three disciples headed down the mountain better equipped to serve Jesus and to stand firm for Him. 

In the same way related to us, mountaintop experiences are not the goal for the believer. If we make mountaintop experiences our goal--going from one experience to the next--we are missing the mark. 

Mountaintop experiences help encourage us in life's mundane, painful, confusing, hard, and challenging journey. Mountaintop experiences provide inspiration and renewal to keep on keeping on. It is often a reminder that God is still with us. God uses mountaintop experience to help us become more like Jesus. 

Experiencing God's presence on the mountain should inspire us to pursue God and spend daily time with Him in His Word and through prayer. The overflow from our time spent with God should lead us to reach people for Jesus in our spheres of influences--marriage, family, church, work, school, relationships, neighborhood, etc. 

Experiencing God on the mountain should lead us back to the valley--to do great work for God, serve Him and share the Gospel. It will be hard but that is where it matters most. 

To encourage you and to help keep things in perspective, please wrestle through these questions:

1.  How did God speak to you on the "mountaintop"?

2.  Are you being faithful to what God said?

3.  What is making it difficult to follow God's voice right now?

4.  How will you trust God to help you walk with Jesus?