I was at the Columbia River Gorge this morning hiking to the top of Multnomah Falls. While I was ascending the trail a verse came to me about ascending the hill of the Lord.
“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?”-Psalm 24:3
I’d climbed up quite a ways before the verse came to me so I was breathing a little harder, and the first thing that came to my mind was that you never ascend without expending energy. It takes effort if you’re going to ascend a hill!
When Moses ascended Mount Sinai to meet with the LORD it actually required some effort on his part to climb up the mountain. And the higher the ascent, the greater the energy required to do it. Then I looked over at the side of the trail and I thought, “It doesn’t require any effort to go down! I could step off the side and go down very, very fast!!!” Sin, disobedience, and the downward descent into hell, is an easy path. You can end up at the bottom very, very quickly. If all you’re looking for is easy, hell offers a path that is straight down and it doesn’t get easier than that.
After getting to the top of the trail and enjoying the view I decided to head back down. I got about three-quarters of the way down when I met a woman who asked me, “Is it worth it going to the top?” I could see the look on her face. She was already looking for a way out and she had only climbed one quarter of the way. That’s how some Christians are… they barely get started and they already want to turn around because it seems too hard. Now the truth is, this particular trail, in my opinion, doesn’t have such an amazing view from the top. It’s okay, but there are many other trails in the Columbia River Gorge with better views, so I didn’t know if it was worth it for her or not. It depends why she decided to go hiking in the first place. If she was climbing to the top because she thinks the view is going to be better from there then no, this trail was not going to be worth it. So I really couldn’t tell her, yes or no. But then I thought to myself… When it comes to God if somebody ever asked me, “Is it worth it to make the ascent?” There wouldn’t even be a moment’s hesitation! Yes, absolutely it’s worth it!!! I get that you’re tired, and you’re only a quarter of the way up, but it’s absolutely worth it! Keep going!! There’s never a question mark when it comes to what it’s like, up there, in His presence!!! Oh yes, it’s definitely worth it!
When the Spirit of God speaks and says “Come up higher”, I’m going higher! I don’t care how much effort it takes!
There’s a popular song in the Church today… “There is no striving…” And yes, I would agree with that, but that does not mean there is no effort required!
“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” -Colossians 1:29
The Gospel of Mark tells us that Peter went up a high mountain with James and John and Jesus Himself. They didn’t get transported there, they had to expend some energy and hike up to the top. But oh, was it ever worth it!
“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus… Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” -Mark 9:2-4,7
When scripture talks of “the hill of the Lord, the Mountain of God”, we ought not to think it’s going to be easy to climb it, but there’s no question that that’s exactly what I want to do!