Mountain Climbing

By Roy Loney

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     "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto this things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3: 12, 13).

     Life is a constant conflict. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary one to another, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The world, the flesh, and the devil pressure the heart of man, while the Spirit holds out high

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incentives to a holy life. The heart. is the battle ground of the universe. All celestial and infernal beings are interested in the outcome. Regardless of God's love and mercy, and Satan's power of deception, the deciding factor in man's destiny is his willingness to hear the voice of God, or to surrender to the wiles of Satan. The incentives to purity are great, for "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." However, we must face the fact that man, corrupted by sin and interested in the flesh, has little inclination to improve his moral and spiritual character. He is content to drift while closing his eyes to the inevitable result of sowing to the flesh.

     Ever since man fell Satan's hold upon his heart has been strong, and his degradation and moral apostasy all but complete. Alienated from God, his ordinary course of life leads him constantly downward; for sin is always progressive. A hardened heart, like an exposed rock, becomes more flinty with the passing years, for Satan's lust to possess the heart is never satisfied. To escape from the devil's power is not easy, nor is it accomplished in an hour. The Christian life is a growth, not a sudden creation. As the tiny green sprout must break through the earth to reach the sunlight, so must the spirit of man battle its way to moral and spiritual purity. Jesus admonished all to "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many I say unto you shall seek to enter in and shall not be able."

     He who would walk with God must climb the high cliffs of morality. The standard God sets is ever beyond man's reach, but the beckoning hand of a loving Father urges us upward. The divine standard of living was set by Jesus, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens. Tempted in all points like we are, he alone fully resisted Satan, and is now able to "succour them that are tempted." He set the standard of living high, because he knew that only through constant struggle for self-improvement could man make the most out of himself.

     A famed Chinese general once said the religion of Christ was a mistake, because he set the standard so high no one could ever attain it. But that is why the religion of Christ is superior to all others. The high standard presents a definite challenge to reach it. For many centuries Mount Everest presented such a challenge to men. Many tried to conquer it and lost their lives in the fruitless effort. How the world rejoiced when the Australian, Hillary, and his Sherpa guide, finally stood on its summit. But the conquest added nothing to the wellbeing of the world. It fed no hungry mouth, nor cured a diseased body. But he who ascends the high peaks of faith in Christ Jesus brings a wealth of righteous influence to sinful men. He becomes a living epistle of inspiration to those in the mire of sin.

     We cannot control the length of our lives, but we can control our power and influence. Every life can be made as radiant as the stars if we aspire to reach the unattainable. Our prayer should be "Lord, plant my feet on higher ground!" Our need is not for more intellectual power but more spiritual power. We do not need more knowledge, we do need more character. We do not need more correct doctrine, but we do need more devotion to Christ. In the words of our text, Paul expressed the divine discontent which should be characteristic of all Christians. The conquest of all truth is attainable only when we aspire to walk in closer communion with Him who is the source of all truth. It has been truthfully said that it is not failure, but low aim, that is a crime, and Paul could never be satisfied unless

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he reached the summit of consecration. His unconquerable spirit could find no rest at the "timberline" of devotion. Only from the rocky summit of Pisgah did he expect to view the promised land.

     Mountain climbing, either by foot or car, has always thrilled me. Many times I've stood on a high mountain, but no matter how high I had climbed, among the distant peaks there will still be greater heights. No matter how well you have lived today, the morrow will present a greater challenge to lead you to a closer relationship to God. He who is content to climb but a mile will miss the sublime view, for it is the second mile of increased devotion which brings the blessing of communion with God. You are not a saint because you don your best clothing on Sunday and sit sanctimoniously in your pew. A saint is one who rises above the mist and fog of low living and walks with God. God does not come down to man's estate but man must rise to meet him in the rarified atmosphere of pure and holy living. Our greatest need is a constant striving to uplift ourselves and improve our minds through spirituality, consecration and devotion. So long as "churchanity" takes the place of Christianity, we will wade in the mud of selfishness and carnality. I am sure we can never make our lives pleasing to God until we sing as an earnest prayer: