Mountain Climbing and Christian Ministries (Part 1)
Some things in life look easy until you try them. Mountain climbing and establishing Christian ministries are two of them. This short post (Part 1) is about their similarities.
Have you ever found yourself blinded by a flash of energy and inspiration? It may have been something like I'll take up mountain climbing or start a Christian ministry. They both look relatively easy, and with a bit of training, no problem at all. Just think of the view from the top of Mt. Everest!
Faintly, you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit within asking, "Are you sure you want to do this?" YEP! Your enthusiasm and adrenalin are supercharged like you just downed a can of Popeyes spinach with a bucket of Red Bull energy drink.
You jog around the block, stretch, knock out 25 pushups, collect your gear from the local discount store, say a prayer, and off you go! On the trip, you decide to review "Mountain Climbing for the Clueless" and "5 Biblical Ministries for Newbies." How hard can this be?
Looking Up: That Mountain is High!
You arrive at the base of the mountain and look up. "Wow, that's a little higher than it appeared on National Geographic Explorer," you think. And then, the Holy Spirit suddenly interrupts your contemplation of the goal towering above you. Within you, the unmistakable voice of God saying,
"All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." Matthew 5:37
By now, a sobering reality has set in. God is looking for a hot or cold commitment from you. Lukewarm is not an option. No longer empowered by caffeine and driven by enthusiasm for the adventure, you face a new reality: you are grossly unprepared, unqualified, and ill-equipped to take on this mountain and ministry by yourself.
What do you do? Many will turn back. Fear and anxiety replace courage and commitment. Many will say, "No thanks, God, I think I'll sit this one out and be comfortable observing the mountain on my television. For those people, God says, "fair enough, maybe another time."
But for you and me, we say "Yes," with full knowledge that we cannot follow Christ up the mountain and into His ministry without God strengthening and empowering us. However, Jesus told His disciples then, as He tells us now,
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
In Part 2, we will begin taking the first steps up the mountain. I pray that God will encourage you to join me on the journey! In Jesus' name...amen.
