by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.â€?Â
Luke 9:28
As we lifted off the runway and made a turn to the South over Puget Sound, I could see it in the hazy distance. As we got closer, it got bigger and more visibly clear. Suddenly we were there and as we flew around t the peak of Mt. Rainer…. so close that it seemed we could almost touch it. I reached for my camera.
There’s just something spiritual and spectacular about being on a mountaintop. Have you ever thought about how many significant Biblical events occurred on a mountain top? Moses got the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai and later saw the Promised Land from Mt. Moab. Jesus was gloriously transfigured on the Mt. of Transfiguration.
We see God’s handiwork all around us, but perhaps in greater way than His spectacular creation of the might mountain peaks around the world. But mountains are also a symbol of challenge as they remind us that the best view is always from the top and in our spiritual growth, we should never stop half way up, as the real reward is at the peak. We gain our real strength, both spiritual and physical when we press to reach the pinnacle.
Caleb is one of my Biblical heroes. When God was dividing up the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains, but Caleb asked for a mountain, for it was there that their enemies had been chased and built their fortresses. That did not intimidate Caleb, as he wanted a challenge. He trusted not in his own strength, but in God’s presence. He wanted to see God at work and choose a place where he would have to trust in God. He refused to allow the difficulty to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.
If you always choose the easy way, asking for peaceful valleys, you will never see God’s full power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by His mighty presence.
(a thought on life from John Grant )
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http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/2009/10/11/jg_mountaintop/