I’m thinking of taking my outfit and riding up the mountains to where the rivers are born.”
–Louis L’Amour (Passin’ Through)
“‘For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has mercy on you.”
–Isaiah 54:10 (NKJV)
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George Matheson wrote, “To seek God is a very bold aim, the greatest aim that marksmen ever took.” But where do we go to seek Him? Yes, it true that God is omnipresent and we can in a sense go anywhere to find Him. The Psalmist wasn’t trying to seek God in Psalm 139, but trying to escape Him and made this statement:
“Where do I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
–Psalm 139:7-8 (NKJV)
But where do I go to find Him? Is it in a grand and glorious edifice? Perhaps He can be found in nature, but what part? In the days of the Old Testament, man could only go so far as the outer court where he could give the priest an offering for his sins. Now, with the wondrous sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, man can go right on in to the Holy of Holies! Why stay in the outer court when there is the Ark of the Covenant before us–the mercy seat of God? What was once unreachable is now within the grasp of man.
Matheson goes on to say, “Men speak of the everlasting hills; what thou needest is rather an everlasting climbing–a hill whose summit thou canst see, but canst never gain. Christ is that hill of holiness. His summit will be as far from thee at evening as at morning; but the climbing itself is the goal.” I’ve been pondering the many aspects of what he was saying. As we come closer to Christ, in one way we are truly closer, but in another since He is the infinite God we are not any closer than when we began.
My thoughts went to the old hymn penned by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
“I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.’
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Upward, always upward. Heaven is above. The thought that we are to be “everlasting climbing” is grand. It is aspiring, yet remember, there are hills and there are mountains. In studying Scripture, mountains are often referred to as the “government seat of God.” He will rush out of Zion, and we look to the mountains.
But what about the valley? Hmm, there are definitely valleys in life, but we cross them moving ever upward towards the summit. Jack Hannah wrote,
“The trail seems always uphill,
Courage is what I’ve got,
The harder it gets, I’m cinching up tighter still.”
Hang on, keep climbing, the way will be worth it once we are in Heaven. Christ is with us, the Holy Spirit is guiding us, encouraging us. Don’t falter, and for sure don’t quit! We are not on the climb alone and no matter how hard the way is, “Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:10, NKJV)
–Isaiah 54:10 (NKJV)
—————————————–
George Matheson wrote, “To seek God is a very bold aim, the greatest aim that marksmen ever took.” But where do we go to seek Him? Yes, it true that God is omnipresent and we can in a sense go anywhere to find Him. The Psalmist wasn’t trying to seek God in Psalm 139, but trying to escape Him and made this statement:
“Where do I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
–Psalm 139:7-8 (NKJV)
But where do I go to find Him? Is it in a grand and glorious edifice? Perhaps He can be found in nature, but what part? In the days of the Old Testament, man could only go so far as the outer court where he could give the priest an offering for his sins. Now, with the wondrous sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, man can go right on in to the Holy of Holies! Why stay in the outer court when there is the Ark of the Covenant before us–the mercy seat of God? What was once unreachable is now within the grasp of man.
Matheson goes on to say, “Men speak of the everlasting hills; what thou needest is rather an everlasting climbing–a hill whose summit thou canst see, but canst never gain. Christ is that hill of holiness. His summit will be as far from thee at evening as at morning; but the climbing itself is the goal.” I’ve been pondering the many aspects of what he was saying. As we come closer to Christ, in one way we are truly closer, but in another since He is the infinite God we are not any closer than when we began.
My thoughts went to the old hymn penned by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
“I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.’
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Upward, always upward. Heaven is above. The thought that we are to be “everlasting climbing” is grand. It is aspiring, yet remember, there are hills and there are mountains. In studying Scripture, mountains are often referred to as the “government seat of God.” He will rush out of Zion, and we look to the mountains.
But what about the valley? Hmm, there are definitely valleys in life, but we cross them moving ever upward towards the summit. Jack Hannah wrote,
“The trail seems always uphill,
Courage is what I’ve got,
The harder it gets, I’m cinching up tighter still.”
Hang on, keep climbing, the way will be worth it once we are in Heaven. Christ is with us, the Holy Spirit is guiding us, encouraging us. Don’t falter, and for sure don’t quit! We are not on the climb alone and no matter how hard the way is, “Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:10, NKJV)