The view is worth the climb

The great and high mountain - the Church

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; "


There are two main trains of thought regarding the church during the end time.  Some are of the mindset that there is going to be a great falling away... And they are right.

Others are of the belief that the church will be in great revival, and they are equally correct. 

The reasons for the great falling away the bible clearly states is "that the the love of many would wax cold". 

Laziness, self contentment, and friendship with the world, are the motivating forces.  

On one extreme of this movement are those who are readily marrying with the world. Loosing and selling their apostolic ideanity  for modern  relevance, and the shedding of the restrictions of Servanthood for the ease of going with the flow of society.

The other extreme of the great falling away, are those who are wanting to return to the the tenures of the law, much like the  judaizers of Paul's day. Replacing the move of God and justification by faith with a system of rules and "traditions of the elders."

"The attitude of we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing." is the driving attitude of both groups. This attitude drives one group towards and into one ditch, the other in the complete opposite ditch.  

Both are a part of the great falling away. 


John was a prisoner on the Isle Patmos. Patmos, an island to where Rome exiled political criminals, it was a death sentence.  If not completely alone, he was at best surrounded by criminals and pagans.

Paul was Living his life in isolation. Completely  cut off from the fellowship of others of like precious faith. 

I want to talk about the "Seducing power of isolation "
Loneliness and Isolation,  can play off of  your natural insecurities and make you fearful, bitter,  cynical, and lead you down the of self destruction.

Rejection was another  constant cell mate in  Paul's cell of isolation. . 

The undeniable  Power of rejection.

There is no greater enemy of faith and confidence than rejection. Rejection can take the brightest, self assured Individual, and lock them away in a cell of doubt, anger, and fear.  

The first time anger is mentioned in the bible it is directly connected to rejection. God rejected Cain's offering. Cain became angry.

Paul was also the last of the living of the 12 disciples.
The "Power of loneliness".

Paul was not completely alone he shared his island retreat with these gloomy cell mates. Isolation, rejection and loneliness. 

Every day as he scoured the island for his meager provisions he would come upon the grim skeleton remains of others who had once  inhabited his rock island.

Every thinking individual can assess their situation and acknowledge that many of the others who have traveled this path have ended their lives lonely, bitter, shipwrecked and lost.

John did something remarkable
John got in the spirit and  climbed a excitedly high mountain.

His efforts were rewarded with a new clearer vision of the church, and his place in the plan of God. 

It is a daily choice to grow, to become, to shake off the voices of bitterness and defeat and climb the mountain.

Mountain climbing is one of the daily calls of Christianity. Going against the tide, going against your natural instincts, and going against what your eyes can see and your mind is yelling will be your eventual doom.

Paul climbed the mountain in prayer "got in the spirit on the Lords day", and declared

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; "

From the top of the mountain you will see the church as glorious, mighty and victorious.

From the valley the church may look backslidden, from the mountaintop she is spotless.

From the valley below she may look luke warm or cold, 
from the mountain top you can see she is alive, vivacious and adorned as a bride who has made herself ready.

The view from the valley is depressing, the view from the top is breathtaking, faith building and hope imparting.

In the valley your companions are bitterness, death, compromise, and defeat.
On the mountain top you will find hope, peace, purpose and eternal life.

Whereever you are in life shake off laziness, despair and compromise.
Arise and climb the mountain and see the church.

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. "

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. "

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. "

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. "

"And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

The view of the church from the mountain is so different from the view of her from the valley below.

Climb the mountain today, the view from the top is breath taking, awe inspiring, redeeming, and life giving.

Blessings




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