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. ♥