The next day, when they came down from the
mountain, a large crowd met him. —Luke 9:37
Over thirty-six years ago. I was attending licensing school
at Jumonville, one of our Conference’s Camping and Retreat Centers. Jumonville
sits on the mountain ridge above Uniontown, PA. Its main attraction is an
illuminated 60 foot high white cross. On a clear day, the cross can be seen
from three states, three counties, and up to 50 miles away.
Everyone in my licensing class wanted to walk up to the cross
during a break before dinner. I planned to catch up to them after I called my
wife. Darlene was seven months pregnant with our second child and was very ill
with bad case of the flu. My family was still adjusting to my call into the
ministry that I sprang upon everyone a few months earlier. It was a very long,
tearful, and heartfelt phone call. I never did catch up to the rest of my
class.
Mountaintop experiences never last. We receive those blessed
times of spiritual revelations and majesty but are soon called back down to the
real world and to serve. My weekend on Dunbar’s Knob under the Great Cross at
Jumonville lasted a few days. I returned from the mountaintop to care for my
ailing wife, provide for my growing family, and eventually be appointed as a
part-time pastor to Albion Heights, a small church in the Punxsutawney area.
Moses spent 40 days and nights on the mountain receiving the
Law of from God. As he tarried on Mt. Sinai, the Israelites polluted themselves
by making an idol in the form of a golden calf. God told Moses to return
quickly. The work and service of a shepherd never ends.
As Jesus’ time on earth neared an end, He took Peter,
James, and John up to a mountain top where He was transfigured before them. His
face and clothing glowed brightly. There on the mountaintop, Jesus conversed
with Moses and Elijah.
The disciple, so overcome with awe,
wanted to build
three shelters and remain there. We cannot remain permanently in our
mountaintop experiences.
They are given to direct and empower us to go back down into the valley and serve.
Jesus very quickly took Peter, James, and
John down the mountain where they faced a crowd of people. A father and his
demon-possessed son were the center of the crowd’s attention. The disciples had
tried unsuccessfully to cast the demon out. The father asked Jesus to help, “But if you can do anything, take pity on
us and help us” (Mark 9:22b). Jesus rebukes the man, “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who
believes” (23).
Jesus and the three disciples came down from possibly their
highest mountaintop experience directly into the demon-possessed valley. Many
times we often think, if I could only get away from all my troubles, I can make
it. If I could only get alone with God or alone on a beach, I’ll be OK. God is
in the beach, yes. God is in our quiet time. God is also in our deepest
valleys.
Jesus told the demoniac’s father, “Everything is possible
for one who believes.” Rest in the power and presence of Jesus. It will be
alright. He will never leave nor forsake you. Enjoy your time on the mountaintop
with the Spirit, but then allow the Lord to lead you down into the valley to
serve.
