Seasons of Life and the Mountain Top

UV 2097/10000 Seasons of Life and the Top of the Mountain
But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it
Micah 4 v 1

Our lives’ landscape consists of both mountains and valleys, plains and plateaux. The mountains refer not only to the high points of our days and of our lives but it also refers to the challenges, difficulties, problems of life. The mountains will not come down to us but the Lord will enable us to climb to the top of the mountains and hills, day by day, step by step. He will teach us His ways and help us follow His paths to the top of the mountains. A test always precedes a triumph. A triumph is an occasion to bear testimony to the Lord’s saving grace and power. In the season of test and trial, we need to be joyful as it is the season preceding the season of harvest, the season of joy. During the times of trials and climbing the mountains and hills of our lives, we are joyful due to the hope that enables us to see that which is not yet visible- our triumph in the Lord. In the season of triumph, we need to rejoice again as we see the triumph, the overcoming, the victory.

During the season of tests and trials, the Lord is at work and doing what we cannot ask, expect, imagine. We are closest to the Lord in our times of trials and difficulties. We realize the true value of things during this season. We are most receptive to learn the lessons and to gain from the wisdom the Lord wants to impart to us. We experience the full extent of the faithfulness of the Lord in this season. The Lord endeavours to establish us on the top of the mountains. As He does so, we should exalt or worship His name, His person and reflect deeply on His word. The judgements of the Lord or the great powers of the Lord and His character are made manifest or visible to our eyes of faith during the season of trials and hardship. We will not only confront mountains or big problems and challenges from time to time, our feet or our faith and strength are tested and made strong on the smaller hills.

There is no short cut to the top of the mountain of the Lord. The enemy of our souls may lift us suddenly to the top of the high places even as He tried to tempt Jesus. He wants to destroy us by feeding our vanities, our ungodly ambition, desires, thoughts and pride. But the Lord lifts us to the top of His mountain step by step, degree by degree, gradually. Not for us sudden fame, wealth or rise to authority and power. The Lord prepares us over a lifetime for His eye is upon eternity and not the short run. The enemy wants to demolish us while the Lord desires to establish us on the top of the mountain. All through and in every season of our lives, we shall have the peace of the Lord flowing in us, through us and from us like a river finds its source in the top of the mountain.

Prateep V Philip