Mountains and Valleys

 

I looked for a graphic that would show a valley, not just a mountain, because life brings us valleys as well as mountain top experiences. For a Christian, a mountain top experience doesn’t have to be anywhere near a mountain. I’ve had, and seen others have, such experiences on an ocean cruise with only the sea from a 360 degree horizon.

For a Christian, a mountain top experience is a closeness to God, Word@Work defines it as:

This expression has originated from the Bible because of the dealings God had with His people on various “mountain-tops”. So the phrase has come to mean a moment of transcendence – or epiphany; and in particular an experience of significant revelation given by God.

Monday night last week, at our Ladies Meeting, our speaker was Tina Pugh, our pastor’s wife. She presented a number of biblical mountain top experiences. As another attendee put it: “For mountain top experiences you must plan and use considerable resources and have faith. God makes it worth the effort when it is to His glory.”

The opposite experiences are termed “valleys,” where we experience a significant distance from God. King David was described as being a man after God’s own heart when the kingdom was taken away from Saul:

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. (1 Samuel 13:13-14 KJV)

Saul’s indictment was specific – he had not kept God’s commandment to Saul, thus Saul lost the kingdom. David would make errors that kept him from building the Temple – that was left to his son Solomon. David also knew about the valleys that come to us, the opposite of “mountain top experiences.’ Those times when we are certain we are alone. Trust God, we are not alone.

When Elijah felt alone he said:

and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. (1 Kings 19:14b KJV)

God responded:

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
(1 Kings 19:18 KJV)

David, when confronting his own sinfulness wrote:

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:2-4 KJV)

He also wrote about God keeping us through the valleys, whether they are of the world’s making – as Elijah, or of our own – as David:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4 KJV)

Yes, God is with us in the valleys of our lives – when we listen to Him. Today we “see” Him as the Holy Spirit, the Comforter sent to His followers.

It is possible that many of our own valleys remain because we do not see God leading us back to those mountain top experiences. He does it through the Comforter Jesus prayed for:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
(John 14:16-17 KJV)

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(John 14:26 KJV)

The Comforter’s presence with us in the valley allows us the strength to continue towards those lifting mountain tops where we do remember our place in God’s plan. If we’ve forgotten that God has a plan for us, the Comforter will “bring all things to your remembrance.” Easiest way for us to know what Jesus said is to read the Bible, isn’t it?