I posted a photo of Mt. Everest on my Facebook page which my daughter took in Nepal last year. As a result, one of my social media friends commented, and we began a running dialogue about my interest in the sport of mountaineering.
And when La-Ray wondered why I didn’t climb Everest myself, I replied,
“Well, honestly, I'm more of an ‘armchair mountaineer.’ If one is to do it seriously, he has to have monetary sponsors, since the time element which goes into climbing mountains would naturally make a vocation of the sport.
“It would require acclimating to the smaller peaks first, and building up to a mountain like Everest. It is a very expensive line of work since between a mountain guide, and the Sherpas who carry all the gear, and the price the country charges to climb it, the cost is upwards of $50,000 for one go at it.
“And many people don't realize that climbing a mountain like Everest takes about 2 weeks, since a series of camps are set up as you climb ever closer to the summit. And when it comes to statistics, most astounding of all… 1 out of 6 people who attempt to summit Everest… don’t come back down.
“I think I will probably just keep reading books about it.”
However, after I wrote the previous response, it occurred to me that we, as believers, have all been called to climb mountains, and that each and every one of us are, at one time or another, called to climb a figurative Mt. Everest.
And I think in the course of our Christian journey, our Lord is gracious to allow us to experience, and acclimate to the smaller peaks first; before He sets a really high one in our pathway.
And it is easy to become disillusioned, and come close to giving up. I mean, we have all been there. Things may fall together very smoothly for weeks, months, and even years, and then, “Boom” we are in the midst of a proverbial storm. The circumstances of life can, at times, be devastating, and we find ourselves surrounded by mountains which we can neither walk around, nor tunnel through.
Pt. 2
As I write these words, I am reminded of the little volume called, “Pilgrim’s Progress.”
Near the end of the book, we find a character named, “Christian” in the midst of climbing up a steep mountain. However, his attempt to reach the summit is hampered by a weight which he carries on his back. And since the book is an allegory, it is not a stretch to realize that the weight represents sin, and pride, and unforgiveness, and bitterness, and any number of other things which aren’t good for those of us who claim to love and serve the Lord.
And as Christian continues to climb, and his ascent slows to a virtual crawl, the baggage falls from his back, and bounces down the steep terrain. Suddenly, he is free, and his journey is no longer impeded by the unnecessary weight. Now he is able to make sure and steady progress. So reminiscent of Hebrews Chapter 12.
“Let us strip off everything which hinders us, and let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.”
“Pilgrim’s Progress” has much to teach us. In the course of our proverbial mountain treks of life, we need to shed the unnecessary weight which hinders us, and always remember how He has helped us in the past.
I love that oh so encouraging verse in First Corinthians.
“No temptation has taken you, but such is common to mankind. But God is faithful, and will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able. And will with the temptation also provide you a way of escape.”
The view from the top of a mountain like Everest is utterly amazing, but our journey to the top is fraught with danger, and no little despair, and disillusionment.
And while when it comes to the literal Mt. Everest most of us will remain “armchair mountaineers,” there are no armchair mountaineers when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Each and every believer will, at some time or the other, be called to climb his own emotional or spiritual Mt. Everest.
Thankfully, the One who during His life on earth climbed, as it were, a higher mountain than Everest, and whose cross graced the summit of Golgotha has gone before us, and He will guide us safely to the end of our journey.
by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending
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