Transformation-climbing the Mountain
Scripture Reading — Habakkuk 3:17-19
The Sovereign Lord … makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:19
Many people prefer to sit snugly in a warm lodge, satisfied with sumptuous food, lulled to sleep in comfort as they gaze upward at towering mountains. They love to hear stories about climbers who reached the highest peak against strong odds. They imagine the astonishing view from the top of a mountain.
Being a spectator has become a common substitute for the real thing. But transformation never happens unless we climb the mountain ourselves. Daydreaming is never enough. We have to personally experience the realities of God, not just hear about someone else’s spiritual highs. We can’t be armchair Christians.
We must stop being spectators and start climbing. In God’s strength we can be like a deer that can leap to the heights. God promises the sure-footed confidence that we need to make it to the top. Christ assures us that our home is with him, and he is ready to celebrate with us.
The peace that comes from realizing we will meet Christ at the heights is unsurpassed. The teamwork learned along the way as we help each other across gorges and up steep cliffs is true friendship. The endurance developed as we decide to go on when our muscles are aching is character formation at its best. The celebration at the top of the mountain as we behold the breathtaking view together is unparalleled.
Lord, many of us have become couch potatoes in our Christian life. Transform us into mountain climbers, O God Most High. May we set our sights on full life with you! Amen.
About the author — Dean Deppe
Dean Deppe has been a pastor in inner-city, suburban, and rural churches. Currently he teaches New Testament theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. His courses include one on the parables of Jesus. He and his wife have four grown children.
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