Part 2, I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open!

My last post was about a line in a worship song

"I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open."

It dealt primarily with How to do this...

Today I want to focus on why!

We talked about climbing and trusting.

Letting go of everything else so we are capable of receiving all that God has for us.

That divine exchange, beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, heaviness for Praise!

But all of that is about me... And I know that Gods purposes for my mountains cannot be just about me.

Lets look at a verse in

Isaiah 40:9 O Zion, You who bring good tidings,

Get up into the high mountain;

O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings,

Lift up your voice with strength,

Lift it up, be not afraid;

Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

For a bit of background, Isaiah has spent the first 39 chapters of his book mostly prophesying Israel’s judgment. He is letting them know they will be taken captive into exile in Babylon.

Now in Chapter 40 Isaiah begins to look beyond the exile - to answer the question in the heart of the people.... Is this captivity the end?

He begins to speak the comfort only given by looking at Israel’s Incomparable God!

The last 27 chapters of Isaiah boldly declare the good news of divine deliverance that will come to His people.

In Isaiah 40:9 he calls the people of God to climb a mountain and to declare this deliverance with a loud voice!

It was customary in those days for those who were about to tell anything great to ascend a hill from which they could be seen and heard by all. They didn't have a sound system and some microphones :)

The essence of the message they are to declare!  "LOOK! IT'S GOD!"

The message is "Behold, your God!" This is not just some brief encounter - this a study, a long-term mission to know the Greatness and the character of our God!

So what does all of that have to do with me?

This same mission has been entrusted to us. It’s called the Great Commission and Jesus gives it to the disciples and US in

Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! ¹⁸ Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Notice 2 things in this passage

1. Jesus made them climb a mountain

2. Jesus told them to tell the Good News - the Greatest News to everyone!

This message is so good, so great - it must be spread as wide as possible!

So my mountain is not just about me.

Gods deliverance of His people was not just for their own blessing. It was to be for the blessing of the whole world.

This mission has now been entrusted to us. We are to tell the world about Jesus! The bible says we are a city on a hill (or a mountain).

Matthew 5:14-16 ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

So life will have mountains to climb...

Matthew Henry says "All human life is warfare, the Christian life is most so, but the struggle will not last always. Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned."

Mountains are climbed one step at a time.

Sometimes you have to rest.

Sometimes you press on.

Sometimes you have to plan and make tough decisions.

But all of this will get you to the mountaintop.

Our spiritual mountains are the same.

 The Bible is full of mountain climbers - Abraham, Moses, Jesus!

When you climb the mountains in your life... with your hands wide open... you will change!

You will learn respect & patience. You will learn to pray, to trust, to submit.

All of this will change your mind, your focus and your life!

But it doesn't end there!

God needs us on the mountaintop to proclaim Jesus Christ and the Good News of His salvation, deliverance, and healing to a generation.

So the question we must ask as we "climb this mountain with my hands wide open" is...

Are you helping people to "LOOK! IT'S GOD!" Now Behold the Lamb!