Mountains Ahead

 

Photo by Ernest Malimon on Unsplash

Scenario: A new Christian, looking at the future with many pitfalls and new commands that still aren't clear. Each of those high points are the goals, the rifts hold shadows and unknowns. How is this landscape transited without injury? Especially with so many differing beliefs dividing Christianity.

The best answer is to check the Bible for a reality check, especially God's promises. One of my favorites is the 23rd Psalm. The Pulpit Commentary says:

"THIS little psalm is an idyll of great beauty, describing the peace and calm delight which dwell with one whose trust is wholly in God. David's authorship, asserted in the title, is highly probable; but we cannot fix the poem to any special period in his lifetime; we can only say that he is beyond the days of boyhood ... His thoughts are happy thoughts—he lacks nothing; he has no fear; God's mercy and goodness are with him; and he feels assured that they will continue with him all the days of his life."

King David ruled Israel after their first king, Saul, about 1010–970 BCE. Luke wrote of David:

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (Acts 13:22 KJV)

Luke was quoting from the Old Testament, when Samuel told Saul he was to be replaced, and why:

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)

From the Bible we learn that David failed God, too, and pled his case to God in prayer:

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)

The Bible not only contains what we are supposed to do - there are innumerable examples of people going against God's will, along with the consequences of their action. For example, multiple wives created multiple family problems. In the beginning God created a man and a woman to be his helpmate. Soon men took multiple wives and were unfaithful. Women were, too. Jesus confirmed God's original plan:

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:4-6 KJV)

These are only two examples of what you find in the way of threads running through all the scriptures. Christians are followers of a Jew, accepting Him as the Messiah that Judaism does not accept. Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophecies - according to Jesus' followers. While some Jews accept that, the majority continue to wait and watch. In many ways, Judaism is as divided as Christianity, but there is one promise I've found God has kept:

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13 KJV)

For a Christian, Jesus laid it out simply to Nicodemus - a very educated religious leader who didn't understand at first:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:14-18 KJV)

That is the gospel - the good news for everyone on earth when it was spoken, and just as true today. How can we tell? It has to be by believing, having faith:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Works are not necessary to be saved, but good works are a result of our faith and are an indication that we have accepted God's gift of salvation. Works without faith cannot save, however works are the outward sign of our faith. The works are the result of following the two commandments Jesus confirmed:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

Imagine, keeping God's law simply by loving God, and all mankind. Yes - that last is the hard one. I know you can come up with an example of someone you cannot possibly love. Yes - you may not love what they do, but we must love the fact they, too, have an immortal soul that needs God. We are all called to share that love. That's the mountain top. God will protect us in the valley's shadows as we learn:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)