Our Highest Feat

I literally just came up with this analogy, as God brought it to my memory, as I had just watched that program about climbing Mt. Everest yesterday evening. He is too cool :o).

When enthusiastic climbers venture to conquer Mt. Everest at its summit, they know the challenge that awaits them. They come prepared with all kinds of gear, food, and other provisions. However, when they get to a certain point of elevation, they have to begin to let some things go. Thousands of articles of clothing and supplies have been found throughout the years, on and around the mountain cliffs.

The air becomes thinner as they gain altitude, requiring the need of more oxygen. Many of the things they carry with them, must be disposed of so that they may maintain their energy, and preserve the most precious thing they need: oxygen, their life source, to succeed and reach their goal; the summit; the top of the mountain.

We as believers, should be just as vigilant and enthusiastic, if not more, about our goal-the upward call. Paul likened it to running a race and throwing off the sin that hinders us:

"Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."-Hebrews 12:1

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."-1 Corinthians 9:24

Paul's motivation was the "prize" of receiving the crown of life, and eternity with his Lord and Savior. That was Paul's "summit" that he looked forward to; his hope, that kept him running the race, even when he sometimes did not "feel like it."

I imagine it to be extremely uncomfortable, scary, cold, dangerous and exhausting to climb Mt. Everest, especially all the way to the top! People have to sacrifice their comforts, to even have the slightest chance of reaching it. It doesn't mean they don't want the things they left behind, but instead they know that there is something greater...much greater that awaits them...at the top...at the finish line, and they will do whatever it takes to make sure nothing gets in their way. They are focused on the end result and not on the immediate desire. For if they had focused on their immediate desires, they would have only gotten so far...never reaching their highest potential.

Seeking Christ the entire way in this life promises no immediate comforts. The things the Lord asks us to leave behind as we "elevate" in Him, taking us to new levels, are things that no longer benefit us, but actually are things that "hinder" us. Christ is the very air we breathe. He is our "oxygen" that we need to breathe in deep at every moment, at every level that we climb. We should do nothing to compromise our "Life-line" in our walk/climb. It will be tempting beyond a shadow of a doubt, in fact, expect the closer you get to that goal, for the temptations to intensify. But as long as you've got your eyes fixed on the "prize" and are breathing Him in deep, those things you will not have to think twice about disposing of, for they will appear to be a burden to you, rather than a necessity. God will be faithful to show this to you. He by the power of His Spirit working within you, will cause you to know the difference.

There are two things that Joyce Meyer has said that go well with this,

"A new level, a new devil" and "Your attitude will determine your altitude in life."

The greatest thing you could ever obtain is eternal life in heaven with the living God. Your greatest mission in life, should be to seek Him, to know Him and all that He has for you, in this life, and the next; to please Him above yourself and to show His love to everyone He brings into your life. This is our "mountain" to climb. This is our "conquest". The final destination is our heavenly home. God's Salvation is the "Summit," the guarantee that all who believe in Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, will have eternal life with Him. Let us so passionately pursue Him, in all our desires. The journey was never promised to be easy...but He does promise it will be worth it. ♥

Treasures of the Heart

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

 Matthew 6:21

In a world full of blingin' possessions
An insatiable lust for perfection
A lack of love, guidance and direction
They can't see that their hearts are infected-Denise Jubb



If you faced Jesus right now, today, and He looking into your heart, would tell you what you treasure most, what would it be that He sees?

It is so sad to know that many people are so focused on the temporal trappings of this world. And most reject the One Treasure that trumps them all, Jesus Christ. For they think that by accepting Him, they will have to part with the things their hearts long after. They see what they will have to give up, and not at all instead, what they will gain. They see a limitless Savior, as a limiting dictator. And even the more heart wrenching, they have believed this lie, that will rob them of anything truly valuable in this life and the next. Their hearts are hardened, refusing to see and believe the Truth that came to set them free from the bondage of evil. They think that because it is all they have ever known, it is all there ever will be. How sad, to only see a piece of a much more grandiose picture. To be content in their discontent, in their constant longing for something more. If only they'd look up and call on the One who has called to them, they would no longer want, but be satisfied. Most people only want to be religious and do not want the work that comes with the relationship. They say, "I will do anything for the Lord...but I won't do that." Some will think they are appeasing God just by showing up in church on Sunday. No matter what sacrifice you bring to God, whether it's your tithing, or your time, God above all wants your obedience.

God wants the complete surrender of our will and our lives to Him. This lifelong commitment is not for the faint of heart. It is not for those who wish to mix and match other idols of the heart, alongside of their walk with God. God won't accept that, and He will not give His glory over to anyone or anything else. If you are in you are in for the long-haul, the rest of your days. When Christ mentions for us to pick up our crosses and follow Him, He was talking about the sacrifice that would be involved. It's uncomfortable at times and it requires us to die to ourselves daily.

Being a Christian can be very difficult. It doesn't mean we have an easy life after we accept Christ; that's just the very beginning. It is a long, narrow, road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). It means we have to walk carefully and wisely. It means we need to pay attention and be alert as to not fall over the edge. We are in a world full of darkness.Without the Light leading the way, we will stumble and fall. It indeed is not the path of least resistance, but, it is a path, the only path that brings rewards greater than our minds could ever possibly conceive, in this life and the next. Not one sacrifice goes unnoticed to the King of kings. He is watching us.

God gave of His only Son, for us, in our place, because He loved us so much, even though we are corrupt and evil in our ways. He did this so that we could spend eternity with Him and so that His Spirit could live within us, giving us the power to change. This is a Gift...the Gift of Salvation...by grace alone, which one cannot ever earn. This is the most valuable possession one could ever withhold; faith in the Christ, who has redeemed us by His blood, a requirement for all sin. If God be the Treasure of our souls, our hearts, i.e. our affections and desires will be placed on things above. Let us seek His face today and always, to truly experience and know this abundant life that He has promised to those who believe in Him and love Him. Amen.

In the story of the the "Rich Young Ruler" (Mark 10:17-27), Christ challenges a rich young man in the one area of his heart which held the most loyalty and desire...

Now as He (Jesus) was going out on the road, one (the rich young man) came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”

And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Jesus knew this man's heart. He challenged this man to leave behind that which was closest to his heart, the "#1 spot", to make room for the Lord. This is a requirement in order to really follow Christ, to really be a disciple and to faithfully serve the Cause. Unfortunately, this man walked away with great sadness, because he was not willing to give up the one thing he valued most, that Jesus asked him to release, that stood in the Lord's place of worship in his heart; his possessions and wealth. For if he had, he would've inherited eternal life and an amazing abundant life here on earth.

What the Lord moves on our hearts to leave behind, to desert, to come away from, in order to effectively follow Him, He will restore in a much better form; double for our trouble. Since God would never withhold anything "good" from us that love Him (Psalm 84:11), then we can trust that whatever we need to let go of is not beneficial for us. God knows best. He sees all and knows all. He knows that whatever we stand on or depend on more than Him, will not be able to hold us and protect us.

Now is this scripture telling us to sell all our possessions? No, not necessarily. In this man's case, it was of course wealth and possessions. In someone elses case, it could be something quite different.

You can't make your job your strength, your home your strength, your boyfriend/girlfriend-husband/wife your strength, your money your strength, your children your strength, because IN A DAY it/they all can be gone. It happened to Job. But make God your strength, for He is eternal and He is able to hold you up and restore to you everything that has been lost. He is the only One able to make you whole and keep you whole and in His perfect peace.

So we must challenge ourselves and exam ourselves today, and ask the question, what is taking the place of God in my life/heart? Be prepared for God to answer you and convict your heart out of His love for you, on what that may be. It won't be easy. It will be a sacrifice. But it will be one that will reap blessings, favor, and rewards. He will give you what you need to overcome, if you truly wish to change. Christ is the Gift, the Treasure that keeps on giving. God bless.