There are many wonderful sights to behold as one gazes upon the beauty of the earth. Among those marvellous sights are some of the most beautiful mountain ranges that anyone can even imagine. These ranges are the home of the world’s tallest peaks and the resting place of so many that have attempted to reach their pinnacles. Mount Everest and K2 are among the world’s tallest mountains, and every year more and more people attempt to conquer those mountains. While reaching the top of Mount Everest or K2 might not be on your list of things to do in life, we all still have mountains that we must overcome.
In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve were faced with a mountain in their lives. Temptation and sin presented itself to Adam and Eve, and unfortunately they succumbed to that temptation and sin. They were temporarily conquered by the mountains in their lives.
Genesis 12 brings us a more positive conclusion to mountains that sometimes face us in our lives. Abram was asked by God to leave his home and go into a land that God would show him. Thankfully, Abram had faith in God and was able to conquer that mountain.
Matthew 19 once again shows us that if we are not focused on Christ, the mountains of our lives can overcome us. There we meet the Rich Young Ruler who had been faithful in so many things, but when Jesus asked him to give up his great wealth for Christ, it was a mountain that he was not willing to cross.
Of all of the many mountain moments about which we read of people facing in Scripture, whether those were temptations, tests or opportunities, one of my favorite mountain stories can be found in Joshua 14. In this great chapter, Caleb was receiving the land that was promised to him. In verse 12, Caleb made a bold and faithful stand for God and said, “Give me this mountain.” Caleb knew what he was doing. He knew the land was full of the Anakim, but he also knew that he had God on his side.
In life, we all have mountains that we are going to face. Some will be large like Mount Everest, and some may be small like a rolling hill. Yet, no matter what comes our way, let us remember to have faith, because nothing can stand in our way when God is on our side.
