SCALING THE MOUNTAINS

"The voice of my Beloved! behold, He cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.  My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, He standeth behind our wall, He looketh forth at the windows, shewing Himself through the lattice.  My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." (Song of Solomon 2:8-10).

 

Most Christians would agree that it is better to enjoy the mountaintop experiences of life than to go through the valleys of disappointment and struggle.  The mountaintops represent the blessings of life, and it is there that we have a clear vision to see where we are now, and where we are going.  Getting there is the problem, though.  We need to ask ourselves, "Just what is it going to take to achieve the summit?"

 

Mountains are formidable.  They are daunting.  It takes great skill and fortitude to scale a mountain.  Even with extensive preparation and training, it is still dangerous and exhausting.  In life, we find that the mountains we face often seem not only difficult, but seemingly impossible.  Our strength is not sufficient, and our courage is lacking.  We can grow discouraged by the upward path that lies ahead of us, and we are tempted to give up at the sheer immensity of our situation.  That's when we hear the voice of our Beloved!  He speaks to us in our distress, and His voice is sweet and comforting.  He reminds us that He is the Lord of the mountains and the Master of the stormy seas.  He lets us know that His strength is made perfect through our weakness.

 

God is faithful.  When we are tried and tempted, He always provides a way for us to escape - a way for us to persevere.  That way which God provides for those who know and love Him is always the same: it is the Beloved, the Savior, the great I AM, the Way, Jesus, the Son of God.  In our darkest times, He speaks to us; and when we look to Him, we will see Him coming to us leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills.  They are no obstacle for Him - there is nothing too hard for the Lord of glory.  It is at that moment that we must realize that we could never have scaled the mountains in our own strength.  It is in Christ only that we can achieve the impossible.  As we trust ourselves to His keeping, we find that He transports us up in His arms and sets us upon the peaks. 

 

Sometimes in our trials, the Lord may seem distant.  Let me assure you, however, that He is always quite near.  He often "…standeth behind our wall, He looketh forth at the windows, showing Himself through the lattice;" but He always, always sees us.  "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers." (1 Peter 3:12).  Because you are precious in the sight of the Lord, you are never far from His thoughts.  After all, He paid the supreme price to save you.  Do you think He will easily let you go? 

 

"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."  This is the thing that He is speaking to you and me.  Rise up from the doubt.  Rise up from the fear.  Rise up from the hopelessness, the depression, and the loneliness.   Leave all that would hold you, and all that would hinder you, and come away with the Savior.  Follow Him, and He will lead you beside the still waters.  He will restore your soul and lead you in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

 

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32).