One of the all-time best things as a kid was to find a great big pile of dirt. My friends and I would rush to it and play "king of the mountain." The point of the game was to be on top of the "mountain." Everyone else would rush up the pile and try to take the spot atop the "mountain" to become "king." The one on top would try to ward off the attacks, but eventually would lose footing and slide to the bottom. The process would then begin all over again.
There are a lot of similarities between this game and real life. We see this very plain in the life of Elijah. Elijah had the most dynamic victory on top of Mount Carmel when he faced off against 450 prophets of Baal and 400 other idol prophets. God was the only one who answered by fire, proving Him omnipotent and the others powerless. You talk about being the king of the mountain, Elijah was it! This was an incredible victory and spiritual high. This story takes place in 1 Kings, chapter 18. In chapter 19, we see something different. Jezebel hears of the show on the mountain top and makes a vow to kill Elijah within 24 hours. Elijah hears her threat and knowing she means business, runs. He finally stops and sits under a juniper tree and says he wants to die. What contrast to the victory we saw just a short time earlier!
The rest of the story tells us that the Lord fed Elijah and then led him to a place where he witnessed many great and powerful things such as earthquakes, fire, and wind. It was after these things that Elijah heard a still, small voice. God revealed some things to Elijah at this time. God was there not only on the mountain top, but also in the low time. And God had a plan and a purpose. His love and care for Elijah had not changed. Elijah recharged his spiritual battery and went back and faced both Ahab and Jezebel once again.
Sometimes we have these great spiritual highs only to be followed by low times under the juniper tree. The world and the devil seem eager to knock us down from the mountain top. We even begin to wonder where God is in all of this trouble. God is there in both places, the mountain top and the bottom of the valley. He still has a plan and a purpose. His love for us hasn't changed. And He is still God and still in control. We, like Elijah, have to trust Him enough to get up and go face the king again.
For Christ's Glory,
Darrell Baty
No comments:
Post a Comment