Many people have experienced standing on top of a mountain. There are very high mountains where, from the top, you can see hundreds of kilometres in the distance, such as Mount Everest or Mount Kilimanjaro. Few have been to the tops of these. Many more have made experiences on mountains that are not so high, just very tall hills where you cannot see quite so far, but you still get a good view of the countryside. It is often a breathtaking experience to see the distant landscape.
When we are in the valleys we can view the tops of the mountains. Often we admire the mountain heights and desire to climb them, and find some way to the top. Sometimes there are roads and you can drive to the top, or cable cars to make it easier to get there as opposed to climbing. There is a certain exhilarating feeling one gets at the tops of the mountains.
Many important events in the Bible took place on the top of mountains.
Abraham offered his son on Mount Moriah: You wonder, why did God ask Abraham to go to the top of the mountain? And this is after having to walk for three days. Abraham had a lot of time to think in those three days. He could have backed out and changed his mind. But he went resolutely forward in faith.
“Side by side the father and the son journeyed in silence. The patriarch, pondering his heavy secret, had no heart for words. His thoughts were of the proud, fond mother, and the day when he should return to her alone. Well he knew that the knife would pierce her heart when it took the life of her son.
“That day—the longest that Abraham had ever experienced—dragged slowly to its close. While his son and the young men were sleeping, he spent the night in prayer, still hoping that some heavenly messenger might come to say that the trial was enough, that the youth might return unharmed to his mother. But no relief came to his tortured soul. Another long day, another night of humiliation and prayer, while ever the command that was to leave him childless was ringing in his ears. Satan was near to whisper doubts and unbelief, but Abraham resisted his suggestions. As they were about to begin the journey of the third day, the patriarch, looking northward, saw the promised sign, a cloud of glory hovering over Mount Moriah, and he knew that the voice which had spoken to him was from heaven.
“Even now he did not murmur against God, but strengthened his soul by dwelling upon the evidences of the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness.” –Patriarchs and Prophets p. 151
On top of a mountain, it is a private place; it is often a solitary place. You are far removed from the disturbances of the valley. It is not common to build a city on the top of the mountain. The Lord wanted Abraham to go through this experience alone. He did not want any interference from anyone to try to prevent him from following through. He had to make the decision alone. And what a tremendous victory was gained in Abraham’s personal life, and for the rest of the universe and for all the generations that were to follow. That was truly a mountain top experience for Abraham. After Abraham had that close encounter with the Lord, after “sacrificing” his son, he was told to return to the valley and take up his daily duties at home. It was not for him to remain on Mount Moriah in the immediate presence of the Lord, as much he may have liked to.
From the top of the mountain, Lot only saw the beautiful valley where Sodom and Gomorrah were situated and he chose to live there. “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom
and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east.” Genesis 13:10–11
Lot chose to dwell in the valley. When you are on top of the mountains and look down, everything looks so calm and peaceful. You do not see the details of what is going on in the valley. You often only see a beautiful countryside or then a city in the distance, that shows little of the activity that is going on. Depending on the height, you may see the neat rows of houses, the streets, the trees that line the streets, the parks, but not really the people, or the activity. And nor can you see the pollution, the crime, or the corruption.
This was not the wisest decision Lot made. He only saw what he thought was the beauty from the distance. All too soon, he found out the reality of what life was really like in the valley. Although, he managed to remain faithful to the Lord, he lost almost his entire family to the corruption in the city. He went from the heights of Mamre, where Abraham dwelt and often communed with God, to the valley of corruption to dwell. The mistake Lot made was that he went to dwell there. While we are called to do missionary work in the cities and the crime-filled areas of the earth, we are not to set our roots down amongst them in our associations. We are to call them out of their situation to a higher experience that the Lord wants them to have.
The Commandments were spoken from a mountain top. Mountains can be seen from hundreds of kilometres away and so provided a good platform for the Lord to proclaim His commandments for all to see. “The top of Mount Sinai rose above all others, in a range of mountains in the barren desert. This mountain God chose as the place where He would make Himself known to His people.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 106. From that mountain top the Lord made quite an impression upon the people. They requested that Moses speak to them in the future rather than the Lord speaking directly to them.
Moses met with the Lord several times on the top of the mountain. A cloud covered the mountain when Moses was speaking with the Lord. No one entered into the presence of the Lord besides Moses. Again, it was a very solitary place. The Israelites could see the cloud, they knew the presence of God was there, but they could not enter. From there Moses received instructions from the Lord as to how to lead the people, how to build the tabernacle; he was also given the laws to govern the nation. And after spending 40 days in the presence of the Lord, Moses had to descend into the valley and take up his duties (many times unappreciated), in leading the people.
Both Moses and Aaron died on the top of a mountain. It was a very quiet and solitary place where they breathed their last. Aaron was accompanied by a few close family members but Moses was alone with the Lord. At Moses’ death, being on top of the mountain had a two-fold purpose. Moses was alone with the Lord in a solitary place and secondly, from there he could view the Promised Land—hundreds of kilometres in the distance. He could see what it would be like. He saw only the beauty of it. Although he was told what would happen after they settled into the land, he personally could not enter. Both Aaron and Moses died peacefully on top of the mountain, not having to descend into the valley on this earth ever again.
Balaam was called on a mission by Balak. (Numbers 22 and 23). From the top of the mountain, Balak asked Balaam to curse Israel. Even though the devil would have loved to do this, the Lord said “No.” From this precipice he could see the vast camp of Israel and the orderly fashion in which it was laid out. He could only stand in awe of the mighty God that was in their midst. How could he curse them? The Lord turned the curse into a blessing. All this while the nation of Israel had no idea what was going on. Evil men were plotting cursings, but God was turning the cursing into a blessing. Many times that will happen to God’s children unbeknownst to them. Evil men plot curses, but the Lord turns curses into blessings. What a great God we serve, Who is always there to protect us! Although the Israelites were dwelling in the valley, the blessings came from the mountain top.
Satan took Jesus to the top of the mountain to show Him the valley far below, far away from the evil that was taking place. From the distance the details of the evil could not be seen. The devil told Jesus, “All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:9. He could have it all and did not need to die on the cross, if He would only bow down to Satan. Jesus did not give in to the temptation. He knew what was really going on in the valley. “Then it was that divinity flashed through humanity, and the fallen angels saw Christ glorified as He said, ‘Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’” –The Youth’s Instructor, January 3, 1901. From a distance it did not seem so bad, but close up, Jesus knew it was much worse.
It is the same in our Christian life. If we are at a distance from Jesus, we do not look so bad, but when we come close to Him, we see how filthy our garments really are. Who would want to then come close? The distance is a deception. Being close is reality. People do not like the reality and find all kinds of substances and medications to distance themselves from the reality of their situation. They prefer to keep a distance. But if we come close to Christ, He will cover our filthy garments with His robe of righteousness.
Jesus took three of His disciples on to the top of a mountain. “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.” Matthew 17:1–2
The three disciples would have loved to remain on the mountain and be in the eternal presence of Jesus. “Here, where the glory of God is revealed, they long to tarry. . . . The entire night had been passed in the mountain; and as the sun arose, Jesus and His disciples descended to the plain. Absorbed in thought, the disciples were awed and silent. Even Peter had not a word to say. Gladly would they have lingered in that holy place which had been touched with the light of heaven, and where the Son of God had manifested His glory; but there was work to be done for the people, who were already searching far and near for Jesus.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 422, 426
All too soon Jesus led them back into the valley and they were approached by a man whose son was possessed by an evil spirit (Matthew 17:14–18). This the reality of the valley of life on this earth.
For Jesus to be able to manage in the valleys of life we read of Him, “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12. Here He found His strength for the days. Remember, Jesus make the ultimate sacrifice when He left the mountain top of heaven to come to this dismal valley (earth) and He lived and died for the glory of God, for you and for me.
Ellen G. White had a vision of heaven (Early Writings, p. 14–20). She was so impressed that she asked to stay there on the mountain top, but she was told she had to return to the valley of this earth. What was her view of this earth when she returned?
“Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world. Sometimes I think I can stay here no longer; all things of earth look so dreary. I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land. Oh, that I had wings like a dove, then would I fly away and be at rest!” –Early Writings, p. 19–20
Although many important events occurred on the tops of the mountains, I want to now compare these mountain top experiences with our spiritual life.
We cannot all climb mountains. We may not have a high mountain close by or we may not have access or the ability to climb. But we all are to make mountain top experiences in our Christian life—experiences when we feel very close to the Lord.
The reality is, though, that when you climb mountains, you cannot remain there. Soon you will have to descend into the valley once more and get up close to the reality of life in the valleys.
Enoch was a faithful man of God and in order to keep his faith strong, he had to retreat to a solitary place. He had to have a mountain top experience with the Lord in order to walk in the valleys of life to minister to the wicked.
“Enoch faithfully rehearsed to the people all that had been revealed to him by the spirit of prophecy. Some believed his words, and turned from their wickedness to fear and worship God. Such often sought Enoch in his places of retreat, and he instructed them, and prayed for them that God would give them a knowledge of His will. He finally chose certain periods for retirement, and would not suffer the people to find him, for they interrupted his holy meditations and communion with God. He did not exclude himself at all times from the society of those who loved him and listened to his words of wisdom; neither did he separate himself wholly from the corrupt. He met with the righteous and the wicked at stated times, and labored to turn the ungodly from their evil course, and instruct them in the fear of God, while he taught those who had the knowledge of God to serve Him more perfectly. He would remain with them as long as he could benefit them by his godly conversation and holy example, and then would withdraw himself for a season from all society–from the just, the scoffing and idolatrous, to remain in solitude, hungering and thirsting for communion with God, and that divine knowledge which He alone could give him.” –The Signs of the Times, February 20, 1879
Enoch spent time on the “mountains” with the Lord, and also descended in to the “valleys” to be right in the middle of evil society to bring them light from heaven. While Enoch often travelled to the valleys where there was evil, crime, and corruption, he did not dwell there. He dwelt in the mountains with the Lord.
Elijah had two tremendous mountain top experiences on two different literal mountains. The Lord worked in a mighty and miraculous manner through the prayer of Elijah on Mount Carmel, bringing fire from heaven which resulted in the people destroying the prophets of Baal, and falling on their faces before the Almighty. From there, in a panic, after hearing about the threatenings of Jezebel, Elijah fled to Mount Horeb where he was introduced to the solitary side of an encounter with the Lord. Elijah was shown the contrast.
When he arrived at mount Horeb, the Lord asked him, “What doest thou here, Elijah? I sent you to the brook Cherith and afterward to the widow of Sarepta. I commissioned you to return to Israel and to stand before the idolatrous priests on Carmel, and I girded you with strength to guide the chariot of the king to the gate of Jezreel. But who sent you on this hasty flight into the wilderness? What errand have you here? . . .
“Calling upon the prophet to leave the cave, the angel bade him stand before the Lord on the mount, and listen to His word. ‘And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.’
“Not in mighty manifestations of divine power, but by ‘a still small voice,’ did God choose to reveal Himself to His servant. He desired to teach Elijah that it is not always the work that makes the greatest demonstration that is most successful in accomplishing His purpose.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 168
Although Elijah may likely have wanted to remain in the direct presence of the Lord it was not that time yet. After revealing Himself to Elijah on the mountain, the Lord still had work for him to do. “‘Go,’ the Lord commanded Elijah, ‘return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus.’” –Ibid., p. 169. From Mount Moriah the Lord sent Elijah back to the valley to do more work for Him.
“But the reaction which frequently follows elevation of faith and marked and glorious success, was pressing upon Elijah. He was exalted to Pisgah’s top, to be humiliated to the lowliest valley in faith and feeling. But God’s eye was still upon His servant. He loved him no less when he felt brokenhearted and forsaken of God and man than when, in answer to his prayer, fire flashed from heaven illuminating Carmel.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 291
There is a time to be on the mountain, and a time to be in the valley and do the work quietly. His successor, Elisha, was a quiet prophet, who worked quietly amongst the people. There is no record of him speaking with large masses of people, kings, and dignitaries, other than those that went to seek him out like Naaman (2 Kings 5) and King Joash of Israel (2 Kings 13:14–19).Yet he was equally doing the work of the Lord. Sometimes the quiet heart-to-heart work is more effective than the public preaching. There is a time and place for both.
Today, we have spiritual mountain top experiences each Sabbath when we attend church and on a greater scale when we attend a conference. “It is important that the members of our churches should attend our camp meetings. . . it would be far better for you to let your business suffer than to neglect the opportunity of hearing the message God has for you.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 38–39
During a conference, we are blessed to be surrounded by many believers all sharing the same faith and love of Jesus. How often we wish it would last just a little longer, but no, the time comes when we have to descend that mountain and go into the valleys of our day-to-day living at home. As much as we would like to remain on that spiritual mountain, the true test of our spiritual life is our ability to carry that power and spiritual energy we received when we descend the mountain; when we have returned home—sometimes to a very small church group—or to being an isolated member—just you and your family. You must carry that inspiration back home into your community.
Those mountain top experiences at conferences and on Sabbaths are not meant to just simply teach us new truth. Sometimes we may not learn anything new. The purpose of these times is to develop our character into something beautiful; they are to make us more Christlike. “None of us should go to the camp meeting depending on the ministers or the Bible workers to make the meeting a blessing to us. God does not want His people to hang their weight on the minister. . . .Each one should feel that in a measure the success of the meeting depends upon him.” –Ibid., p. 41. Those who have come to a conference from the right motives often have left feeling like the Apostle Paul when he stated, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. They wish that they could always feel like this.
Never forget the feelings you felt at conferences and on Sabbath. When Sabbath is over, or you return from a conference, begin to work immediately for the Lord, even if it is something small. If, during a spiritual meeting, God shows you something to do, do not say, “I’ll do it”—just do it. Go forward. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. Those mountain top experiences at conferences and on Sabbath are intended to give us inspiration to be able to live in the valley, to keep us going during the week even when we do not feel like it. We are to bring these experiences that we made, and the revelations that the Lord gave to us, into our everyday life. It is the ordinary daily life where we prove our spiritual stamina and strength.
Daily also, with our personal devotions, we are to have small mountain top experiences with the Lord in order to walk through the valley of our daily lives. Although we may not feel the exhilaration we felt at the conference, we have a calm peaceful trust that the Lord is with us.
In our spiritual lives, I am sure many of us have felt times when we were very close to the Lord, and other times when we felt very despondent and thought, “what’s the use?” “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?” Malachi 3:14. Ellen White also experienced times of despondency, as you read the biography of her life. The Lord wants us to trust Him implicitly, regardless of how we feel. Sometimes we are blessed with mountain top feelings but we will not always have mountain top feelings—the Lord is testing us. Just because you may feel despondent it does not mean that the Lord has forsaken you. We have to be able to trust Him at all times regardless of feelings.
Although the valley may seem like drudgery—like an endless round or repeated duties, it is in the valleys that we live for the glory of God. We may see His glory on the mountains, but we do not live there. We do not remain in solitude, reading, studying, and praying. It is there that we receive the inspiration to come down and work and live for His glory in the valleys of life. We live in the valleys but the blessings come from the mountains.
Hopefully we all take time to have mountain top experiences with the Lord. There are the solitary mountain top experiences, as seen in the life of Enoch, and the Lord’s message to Elijah on Mount Horeb, and also the public mountain top experiences which are equally important. I am sure that the Israelites never forgot the majesty displayed on Mount Sinai when the Lord spoke the Ten Commandments to them in awesome majesty. I am sure also that the Israelites never forgot the fire coming down from heaven and devouring Elijah’s sacrifice.
In the valleys of life we face trials and difficulties as the Lord molds and shapes our characters to be able to stand one day on Mount Zion—a place we will never have to retreat from down to the valleys ever again.
“Let us live in the sunlight of the cross of Calvary. Let us no longer dwell in the shadow, complaining of our sorrows, for this only deepens our trouble. Let us never forget, even when we walk in the valley, that Christ is as much with us when we walk trustingly there, as when we are on the mountain top. The voice said to us, ‘Will you not roll your burden upon the burden bearer, the Lord Jesus? Will you not live on the sunny side of the cross, saying: I know Him whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day? Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’” –The Signs of the Times, July 25, 1895
Wendy Eaton