Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you..”
What is it about mountains that inspires people? Terms like ‘majestic’, or ‘awe inspiring’ are descriptions people use when looking at these large piles of dirt and rocks. Some mountains are tall enough to accumulate large amounts of snow which then elicits even more of a draw towards these landmarks in our countries. They each have names and most have historically been included in songs and poems. People spend thousands of dollars to climb them while many have passionately made them their pilgrimage each year, even some have seen their lives come to an end because of them.
Mountains shrink at a fairly steady rate each year. Do you know what causes this shrinkage? —–Lightning! Yeah, they used to think it was snow and ice causing fractures in the rocks, water run off or landslides but the biggest cause of the breakdown of mountains is the continual lightning strikes that occur each year. The erosion rates that occur are fast enough that if left to a natural order of decline would bring every mountain down to sea level in 50 million years.
There is a big problem that occurs for those who subscribe to an evolutionary model of the earth….
There shouldn’t be any mountains at all!
Evolutionary scientists think the earth is 4.6 billion years old, if this were the case, there would be no mountains. Even though tectonic plate movement may cause new mountains to arise, according to the ‘specialists’, the mountains date back to the time of when the earth was first formed.
Just like a Creation model is the only narrative that makes sense for the world around us, a biblical model is the only one that makes sense for all life as well.
Nahum 1:5 “The mountains quake before Him, The hills melt, And the earth heaves at His presence, Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.”
No matter how majestic the mountains may seem, all of Creation bows down before the Creator. Everything is reduced to nothing in the presence of God Almighty.
God uses Mountains
It was at Mount Sinai where God called His people to come and worship Him. After much deliberation with Pharaoh and some intense negotiations, the people were led through the desert to this mountain of the Lord. There, at this Holy place where Moses was first called by God to serve Him, God’s choice to establish His law for every generation was given. In the same way that Moses ascended the mountain to converse with God, we see Jesus doing the same 1300 years later.
Luke 6:12-13 "In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:"
When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, do you remember the reason for leaving? Moses came before Pharaoh and said, “And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear!” Exodus 7:16
Mountains often bring us to a place that seems closer to God.
Close to God
When Jesus ascended that mountain, it wasn’t the first time He had done so. He often went to the mountains to pray. The solitude that is found on the tops of these high places can be a good time for reflection. When we eliminate the distractions of this world, we give ourselves the ability to hear the quiet voice of His Spirit. The problem is—-we have to come down. If the only time we hear God’s voice is during these times of isolation, we will struggle with our walk. We have to learn how to hear God’s voice in the midst of the chaos. We must be able to hear God as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is still leading and never leaves our side.
Before Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, there was once an incident that precluded it.
Luke 6:9-11 “Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at all of them, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and it was restored. But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.”
Jesus had been confronting the false implication that the Sabbath was not only to be strictly observed according to Jewish custom, the Pharisees had added to the requirements of the Sabbath. By adding to what God had made perfect, the requirements of the law became oppressive and unbearable. The people suffered under the weight of man’s restrictions and lost sight of the premise for which the Sabbath had been created.
Jesus was returning the moral law to what God originally intended: an expression of His love.
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.”
The pharisaical model for observance was a way for mankind to impose their rule, exert their pride, and ultimately to control others.
Does this model look familiar? It should if you have done any study of the myriad of false religions in the world. From Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, to Buddhism, every religion apart from a Biblical model of God’s Truth imposes man’s will on the requirements for reaching God.
Jesus countered the anger and rage of those who rejected His model by first going up to the mountain to pray. What can we take away from His example?
Arguing with a fool who is adamant in their position is not profitable.
There is plenty of opportunity to argue with others in this day and age. From politics to policy, it seems everyone is acquiring an opinion about everything. Much of the anger we see today stems from fear.
Jesus reminds us how to trust Him, and He used mountains as an example.
Matthew 17:20 “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
We have to continually remind ourselves when news reports on a virus strain, or a stock market dip, or some other report that paints a picture of impending doom….of who is in control. If the Lord is doing the leading, nothing can stand in your way…it takes but just a little faith.
Your Mountain
How do you deal with the stress of this world. Where do you go?
The mountains of God have held many prominent positions throughout history. From Elijah confronting the false prophets on Mount Carmel to Jesus taking His disciples onto a mountain and being transfigured before them, God has used these landmarks to bring perspective to a people who have had a very hard time seeing beyond their own circumstances.
Micah 4:1 “In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.”
The Lord will be exalted above all. When Jesus assumes His rightful place on this earth, His millennial throne will be on the temple mount, where His Spirit met with the people so long ago.
The Lord completes the circle of life, the processes He sets in place—He fulfills and His promises will endure until the end.
Zechariah 8:3 “This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”
Eventually, every mountain and high place will be brought low before the Lord most high. If we have exalted anything before Him, it will be reduced to nothing. The Lord will not share His glory with another. He alone is Creator and He alone stands worthy of all worship and praise.
Seek the Lord today. Find that place where you can dwell quietly with Him and speak out….He hears you and He will respond. Just listen.
U.T. 