The more and more I engage with scripture I realize I am a lot like Peter.
Take the account of the Transfiguration for example:
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
I often feel just like Peter here. They have this amazing mountaintop experience and Peter says, “Hey, can we just pitch a tent and hang out here? This is awesome! Plus, I kinds just need to rest.” Do you ever feel like you would just like to pitch a tent? Stay where you are at this moment? Not go any further? Just take it easy for a while? I know I would. Especially the week after Easter.
Easter is a hard week, but it is also an amazing one for this pastor. I love the different worship services and how they minister to my soul. And, now on the other side of the celebration, I find myself asking Christ if we can just build a tent and hang out here for a while. I’m tired, but, even more than that, this place is cool! But, I know that Christ’s response to me is the same as His was to Peter, “Get up! Don’t be afraid.”
We serve such an amazing Lord that he gives us these mountaintop experiences. Times in which we get to see His glory in new ways. Times where we are reminded of who He truly is. He gives these to us because He knows we need them. We need them so that we will have the strength, the anointing, the blessing, the power, the whatever you want to call it to get up and head back down the mountain. He knows we need this because sometimes going back down the mountain is the last thing we want to do. After all, there are valleys down there! Demons to cast out! Hurting people to heal! It’s just hard. It’s life. It’s definitely not the mountaintop.
I guess what I want to say is that, enjoy the mountaintop when God brings you there. Enjoy the rest He gives. Soak it up and take it for all it’s worth, because it is one of the great blessings He gives us. But, remember that we are not called to live there. We’re called to live among the brokenness and hurting of everyday life, but also remember that he doesn’t send us down alone. He goes with us! He gives us what we need to start the journey down, and He gives us Himself each step of the way after that. So, get up! Don’t be afraid! Your God is with you and there are people in the valley that need His healing touch!
Good message