THE MASTER'S VOICE
Peaks and Valleys
In the Book of Mark, Chapter 9, there is the story of Jesus taking Peter, James
and John up the high mountain with Him, where He was then transfigured before
them. They were amazed and awed by the appearance of Elijah and Moses, and by
the words spoken to them, and they wanted to make it a very special place and
time by building some altars in remembrance. They probably would easily have
stayed there on the mountain and led a very spiritual life right there if given
the opportunity. However, Jesus took them back down the mountain to the valley
-- and back to the common life.
As soon as they got back down, they were faced with a challenge which they
could not meet, a puzzle they couldn't understand about the coming death of the
Lord, a teaching about humility, and a warning about hell. I'm sure they were
probably thinking about how exciting it had been back up on the mountain and
were puzzled about why they had to come back to the less than exciting life in
the valley. In the book, "Hinds Feet On High Places," the little girl, Much
Afraid, had the same experience -- tremendous excitement and joy while up on
the mountain with the Lord and then the dark recognition of having to go back
down into the valley. And it's likely the same with you and me.
The Lord will often give us the "mountain-top" experiences, but He won't let us
just stay there and bask in them. Oswald Chambers wrote, "The test of our
spiritual life is the power to descend." "It is a great thing to be on the
mount with God, but a man only gets there in order that afterwards he may get
down among the devil-possessed and lift them up." When the Lord called His
disciples and said, "Follow me," He didn't immediately go up the mountain with
them to a great banquet and party. He led them straight out into the crowds and
the temple and the dusty roads where the hungry and hurting and sinful people
were. His place, and theirs, was to be down in the valley ministering to the
people. That's why He came, and that's why He called others to be with Him. The
mountaintop was a good place to visit, and to rest in, and to be refreshed at.
But it wasn't where they were to stay. Their place was in the valley.
Friends, many of us have had the mountaintop experiences, and we can be
thankful that God chose to give them to us. While you are there, enjoy your
experience; bask in it; be warmed by the fire of His special time of closeness.
But do remember that the special time has been given to you for a purpose -- to
rest and refresh you, to teach you, to encourage and comfort you. And it's been
given to you to take back down into the valley to give to others.
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As we look forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord and to stepping into
the New Year, take your place in His service in the valley with this song
filling every part of your heart and mind and soul:
"All hail, King Jesus! All hail, Emmanuel!
King of kings, Lord of lords, Bright Morning Star.
And throughout eternity, I'll sing your praises;
And I'll worship you throughout eternity."
I pray our precious Lord Jesus will be glorified through each of your lives.
You are His very special ones.
Peace!
Jim
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