MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Neal Pollard

I am still looking to hike my first “14-er” (that’s Colorado speak for a mountain 14,000 feet or higher in elevation).  However, if you count automobile climbs, I have done multiple 14-ers.  It is such a never-ending joy to look out and see those beautiful Rocky Mountains.  Often, I tell my family that they are “calling” me (that’s Pollard speak for, “I want to go hiking or get up in those mountains”).

The relatively little hiking I have done at higher elevation, however, reminds me of the fitness level and stamina needed to accomplish the task of mountain climbing.  While the thought of ascending them is enamoring, you cannot wish your way to the top.  Spiritually, it is fair to consider many aspects of our Christian life to mountain climbing.  People often speak of goals, struggles, and temptations as being a mountain to climb.  We can observe the rigors of literal mountain climbing and see similarities between that and the figurative.

Mountain climbing is strenuous.  It requires cardiovascular fitness and mental strength to climb a mountain.  The altitude gain and loss take their toll.  Terms like lung capacity and lactic acid build up depict hard work.  But, consider the figurative mountains we must climb.  Dealing with matters that have long been neglected leave one with a higher mountain to climb.  When one stops neglecting it and starts climbing it, he finds out what a challenge it is combatting fear, stress, opposition, criticism, and more.  Doing the right thing is seldom the easiest way to go; it is so often the hardest route.

Mountain climbing can be hazardous.  Yesterday, Colorado had its second hiking fatality on the same peak in the southwestern part of the state. There have been three fatalities on Longs Peak alone.  A ranger who works on that peak said, “Accidents can result from underestimating the difficulty of the climb, wearing the wrong footgear or simply having bad luck” (via eptrail.com).  People die of cardiac episodes, falling rocks, and hypothermia.  Yet, people in large numbers keep climbing.  That tells me that they feel the risk is worth the perceived benefit to these hearty hikers.  Likewise, the mountain climbs of our lives are often fraught with peril.  Like Caleb’s desire to take those literal mountains in Joshua 14:12, we undertake our climbs because we are after an inheritance.  What is threat, persecution, or worse compared to realizing the hope of heaven?  What sin, trial, or discouragement is worth foregoing the climb?

Mountain climbing is advantageous.  It puts one in a superior position.  That may be “bragging rights,” the satisfaction of achievement, or the quality of physical life through fitness.  Again, people would not struggle through the strain and hazard the hazards if there was no perceived advantage.  Those of us who climb the mountains present in church life, in relationships, in personal trials, and the like are seeking victory.  The greatest advantage we bring to our climbs is Christ!  Paul says we can make all things happen through Him (Phil. 4:13).  We can taste victory through Him (1 Cor. 15:57).