What To Do—After the Mountaintop Experience
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 12: 2 NASB)
Standing at the base of the mountain, to the top seemed so far away, so high, so impossibly far, but climbing the mountain was what we had planned to do that day. The drive to the base of the mountain had been filled with pleasant conversation, laughter, and good remembrances. As we drove, often I was reminded how much he had grown up since we first met.
We reached the parking lot, pulled out our backpacks, our water, and secured our shoelaces to ensure that they were properly tied. Then we headed toward the path, taking one step at a time, talking as we hiked. Now, I am “vertically-challenged” (compared to my hiking partner), so as he stepped over top fallen logs and around large barriers, I climbed upon and over the fallen logs, even needing to place my knees down onto the barriers so that I could crawl over them as we ascended the mountain.
After several minutes of hiking, we reached the top, and we were not disappointed. The view of the valley was extraordinary. As we stood there absorbing all the beauty God offered, I remember my headspace that summer day. I recalled the times I had hiked here before with others: with my daughters and with students. I recalled all the memories, which brought a smile to my face.
We moved from place-to-place (while there at the mountaintop) taking in the view from various angles before we decided to begin our descent. ‘It had been a nice hike,’ I remember thinking as we began hiking back down the mountain, taking a different trail than we took on the hike upward. ‘Although my back had caused me some pain, still I was ecstatic that my pain had not stopped me from hiking that trail to the top.’
We remained quiet as we hiked, moving farther down from the top with each step we took. Truthfully, I don’t really remember my thoughts that day, as we descended down the mountain, but when my young friend placed his hand on my arm and spoke, it was apparent what had been upon his mind as he hiked.
“Nancy, I think the way you believe is beautiful,” he spoke after placing his hand on my arm to stop my steps. Clearly, it was not his hand but his words that stopped me. I remember turning to face him as we stood there on the side of the mountain.
“You can too,” I replied, “It just takes faith in God.”
“I want to believe,” he said, “and I know there’s a higher power—out there,” he said as his eyes searched the blue sky.
What To Do—After the Mountaintop Experience—We Are To Follow God’s Leading!
I called him by name, causing his eyes to turn away from the sky and rest upon me.
“Do not stop searching,” I whispered as tears leaked from the corner of my eyes.
“God will reveal Himself to you,” I said, as I looked into his eyes. “Keep searching. Keep looking. You will be amazed when you encounter God & truly see Jesus as your Savior.”
That was our conversation, just a few words spoken about faith. Though small in the number of words spoken, still huge in significance!
I recall praying as we began hiking again, praying for his eyes to be opened, praying, and asking God to help him see God with clarity, praying, and asking God to give him an encounter with the Holy Spirit—praying so he could know Jesus as his Savior.
Before long, we had reached the parking lot, and as I opened the hatch so we could stow our belongings, he returned to our earlier conversation.
“Nancy, if I never believe as you believe, will you still love me?” he asked me as we stood there at the back hatch. I remember thinking, ‘Oh, God, help him believe in You.’
I called him by name and then said, “Yes, I promise. I will always love you, whether you believe or don’t.” Those words almost broke my heart to speak. Loving others who do not believe as we believe is a suffering that we are given to endure. Thank goodness, Jesus has offered to carry that burden for us, if we lay it down and give it to Him.
What Are We To Do—After the Mountaintop Experience—We Are To Follow God!
We are heading this week into a time of Lent—forty-two days (this year 2023) as we march forward toward Easter, toward Resurrection Sunday.
Yesterday was Transfiguration Sunday, but maybe you enjoyed a worship service yesterday and did not celebrate the manifestation of Jesus Christ upon the mountaintop recorded in three of the four Gospels.
Tomorrow is known as “Fat Tuesday,” an overly-large carnival party as the festival-goers enjoy an abundance of EVERYTHING.
Wednesday ushers in Ash Wednesday (a time of remembrance and fasting and prayer and penitence) a time of recalling all the sins we have committed against God.
After Wednesday, comes the days of Lent, and my mind has been focused on the question: What Lord will you have me do during the season of Lent as I focus more upon You, as the days lead closer and closer to Easter Sunday?
Back in 2017, I discovered Matthew 17 for what seemed to be the first time in my life. That year had been a most-difficult one, and I remember where I sat in my living room, where I resided within my personal life. I most vividly recall the conversation I experienced that day with God’s Holy Spirit. Today, as I found myself studying again Matthew 17, that particular hike up to the mountaintop with that young man on that summer day, came racing into my mind. In both instances, God spoke to me in both places:
- On the hike with my young, tall friend.
- In my living room while sitting in my favorite blue chair.
“Six days later, [after Jesus began to prepare His disciples for his death and resurrection] Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
(Matthew 17: 1-2 NASB)
And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.”
Oftentimes, we speak of a “mountaintop experience,” of a “reviving,” of a “renewal or rededication,” and of a “spiritual awakening.” Despite what we call the experience, the fact that the Holy Spirit has revealed Himself to us supersedes the label we place upon the experience. May we note from the Scriptures a few truths:
- “Jesus took with Him”
- “Jesus led them”
- “Jesus led them up on a high mountain”
- “Jesus led them up on a high mountain by themselves.”
- “And He was transfigured before them;”
- “and His face shone like the sun,”
- “and His garments became as white as light.”
This hike Jesus made with His disciples to the mountaintop was no ordinary hike.
Jesus was there, and that made all the difference!
What Are We To Do—After the Mountaintop Experience—We Are To Walk In Obedience To God!
- We may find ourselves hiking today, walking with Jesus as He leads us to the top of the mountain.
- We may hike along with others, but it is truly alone, this hike Jesus leads us on with Him.
- We may be surrounded by a crowd of believers and unbelievers, but it is an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ that is ours to enjoy and experience.
- We may see Jesus transfigured right before our mind’s eye.
- We may see Jesus, shining as bright as a white light.
- We may see Jesus, and as we do, we will find ourselves down on our knees, filled with humble adoration.
“While he was still speaking [while Peter was speaking aloud his thoughts], a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!”
(Matthew 17: 5-8 NASB)
When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.
And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”
And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.”
Jesus will lead us where we are to go!
We only need to follow Him, faithfully!
God will speak to us!
We only need to listen to the Word of God!
The Holy Spirit will terrify us at times!
We only need to remain in constant fellowship with Him!
Jesus Himself will touch us, speak to us, and encourage us to witness & to “not be afraid.”
We only need to listen and to follow Him!
Jesus will lead us to look up and to see “no one except Jesus Himself alone.”
We only need to obey God’s will—every day, faithfully!
We speak of a “mountaintop experience,” of a “reviving,” of a “renewal or rededication,” and of a “spiritual awakening.”
Despite what we call the experience, the fact that the Holy Spirit has revealed Himself to us supersedes the label we place upon the experience.
Then, the question becomes: What Must We Do—After the Mountaintop Experience?
- Listen to Him!
- Walk daily with Him!
- Step, staying in step with Him!
- Pray without ceasing!
- Speak about Jesus as we go!
- Testify about the “Goodness of God!”
- Study His Holy Word.
- Obey—Going & Doing & Saying—whatever & wherever God leads us!
“And [you, child of God] do not be conformed to this world, but [you, child of God] be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you [child of God] may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 12: 2 NASB)