The seemingly insurmountable

Pictured here are the Haiku Stairs in Oahu, Hawaii.  I found this picture on Pinterest.   I have two Pinterest pages and one of them is called Places to Visit.  I post pictures of places I would really love to see.  This one really struck me and immediately reminded me of the need for consistency and perseverance in our lives.  I, like many others in our country, am trying to lose some extra weight, so I try to walk every day.  I know that hills and stairs are good for me, so I try to pick places that have them.   But I will tell you true, I hate them.  Some people love it, they are the crazy ones I see running up the stairs and hills.  But me, well, I approach the hills or stairs with dread, but I ascend them nonetheless.  I will tell you, though, that I keep my head bowed and do not look up to see how far I have to go.  I just look at the steps, and  my feet, and take it one step at a time.

I think following God can be a lot like that.  Keep our heads bowed, our eyes looking at our feet in Humility, and just take it one step at a time.  Some of the things God asks of us are Seemingly insurmountable, like the Haiku Stairs in Oahu, but He promises to give us all we need.

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Hebrews 12)

There are things we must lay aside that encumber our Journey with God.  There are sins to be repented of that have entangled us, ensnared us.   So let us put first things first, and deal with these.  Only God has the right to cast our sins behind His back.  We must come before Him, agree with Him about our sins, for that is what confession is, and turn and walk in His ways.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:13-14)

In all of my life, one of the most important things I have learned, is to deal with the past, and then put behind you.  1 John 1:9 tells us, that if we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from its unrighteousness.  Part of that cleansing is from the guilt and shame.   So let us take these steps, one by one, fixing our eyes on Jesus, and reach forward to the upward call of God.  His Kingdom is here.  His Kingdom is coming.  Let us do Kingdom Work until the very end.  Let us be used up by God for good.  Let us begin the Ascent today, let’s commit ourselves fully to Him for whatever His purposes are.  Amen