23/05/12

Going to the mountain tops

Matthew 5:1 - And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:


We read in the Gospels for Jesus the mountains held a special place. Whenever He needed a private time or to be away from the people He would go up any mountain if available nearby.

We also see in other religions their so called 'holy men' or 'man gods' go to mountain tops to meditate to be closer to the Creator. But this is not the reason Jesus went to the mountains.

Most people think God is up and Heaven in up, but Jesus knowing the Truth never went to the mountains to go on a height so as to be closer to God. The earth is round so up is a relative direction.

If we read scriptures Jesus mostly went to the mountains to be away from the people and being away from the people He would get time totally dedicated to His Father. Jesus was God who became man and although being man He knew God is everywhere. One does not need to go anywhere to be with God. Wherever man is, however condition he is in, he can find God for God is Omnipresent.

People go to mountains tops so as to help themselves to be away from people. To be in communication with God and to hear His voice clearly one needs to cut one's self from this world and the commotions of this world.

A mountain not only takes us away from the people but also away from this world. We may not have access to a mountain but we have mountains which we can go to like our bedroom or even our bathroom. What we need is just a place where we can be alone and least disturbed by people, so that we can spend exclusive time with God. One thing also one needs to remember is physical isolation does not guaranty a mental isolation and a mental isolation is more necessary than a physical isolation. Jesus did not require to go to mountain tops to be with His Father, He did so as to be away from the crowds that were always around Him. We can be on mountain tops but if our hearts and minds are thinking or worried with things and people of this world then mountains are of no value to us. If we do not have the problem of people worrying us like they did to Jesus our mountains can be even a crowded train, all we need to do is to control our senses.

A lot of my learning from God either happened when I would get up very early and sit with Him (at that time everyone else in the house was asleep so this became my mountain) or when I travelled by train. Even though I was in a crowded train I could cut out the world mentally and be with the Lord (this did cause me at times to miss my station, smile or laugh with joy suddenly and people to stare at me).


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You have said in your Word 'Be Still and know I am God'. Lord, it is the things of this Cosmos which stand between us knowing You and your Kingdom. Lord, we may not have access to real mountains but make available mountains to us in our lives in the provisions we have. Most of all help us to spend exclusive time with You so as to be able to hear your voice and know You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Psalms 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Judges 18:8-12
8 And they came to their brothers to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brothers said to them, What say you?
9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are you still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
10 When you go, you shall come to a people secure, and to a large land: for God has given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
11 And there went from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: why they called that place Mahanehdan to this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.


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