Want To Walk With God? Take The Next Step

Want To Walk With God?
Take The Next Step

A staff member came over a ledge and encountered a mountain lion!

A few years ago, my wife and I traveled to Flagstaff, Arizona where I was scheduled to preach for a week at a Bible camp. On a hot Sunday afternoon we flew into Phoenix where a camp staff member picked us up for the three-hour ride to Flagstaff. As we traveled through the cactus-filled desert, it became obvious to me that we were slowly gaining elevation. I was informed by our host that Flagstaff is actually located close to 7000 feet in elevation.

PLAN
When we arrived at the camp I immediately noticed two things. First, the temperature was much more pleasant. In fact it was almost thirty degrees cooler than what we felt in Phoenix. I also observed that the camp was located at the base of a large mountain rising two thousand feet higher. I later learned that Mt. Eldon rose to around 9000 feet.

Early in the week I began asking some questions about Mt. Eldon. I wanted to find out if anybody ever hiked to the top. To my delight I found out that several of the guys on staff did it once or twice each week. I quickly let it be known that I was interested in joining them for the next climb. We decided to go for it on Tuesday morning.

We met on Tuesday morning at 4:30 am. Though still dark, it was necessary to start early so we could return in time for the scheduled activities of the camp. I was joined by three staff members, who were 12-14 years younger than I was. That made the challenge even greater as I sought to prove I could keep up with them. Our hiking supplies were simple – snacks, water, and cameras.

CLIMB
As we started out, it became obvious that this was not a stroll in the park. We were not even following a trail. These guys wanted to go right up the face, all 2000 feet of it. We had no climbing gear, so it truly was mountain climbing with our hands and feet.

For the next two hours we climbed. I felt energized by the thrill of watching from 8000 feet as God woke up the world for another day. The climbing was challenging. There were times when it was necessary to stop and look over the next hundred feet to even see if it was climbable.

Having chosen our next route we would continue. I remember squeezing through cracks in the rock not made for bodies my size. I remember one place where we straddled a fifteen foot high ridge for some distance. The challenge was greater because this rocky ridge was only fifteen inches wide! On occasions we clung precariously to solid rock faces as we strained to reach the next handhold.

As the climb continued, I began to sense that a tremendous amount of energy was being spent. I felt a burning sensation in my legs. I felt a cramping sensation in my hands and arms. At times it was necessary to stop and regain my breath because of the thinness of the air at this elevation. I even got a few bruises and scrapes from a minor fall. We were constantly aware of potential danger. On one occasion, a staff member came over a ledge and encountered a mountain lion! It was necessary to even backtrack a time or two, but slowly we made our way up the mountain.

LEARN
That morning, I began to learn something about mountain climbing. Occasionally it’s OK to look up to be reminded of the ultimate goal. However, there are times when you can’t even see the top of the mountain. When you are in a ravine or behind a large rock formation, your goal is not even visible.

I began to understand that the best place to look was just inches in front of me – where my next step would be taken. I realized that the 2000 foot climb had to be broken down into inches if I was going to reach my goal. Step by step I was progressing. I was getting weary, but I realized that even slow progress is still progress.

APPLY
It is also like that in my walk with God. As a teenager I read numerous biographies of famous Christians. Their experiences always seemed like mountaintop ones. I wanted to run by leaps and bounds to the level they had attained in their devotion to God. I wanted to quickly scale the heights, but I’ve learned that it doesn’t work that way. I am so glad God never told us we had to run with Him. He simply asked us to walk.

As I stood on top of Mt. Eldon later that morning, I was thrilled. We did it! However, when I looked around, in the distance I saw Mt. Humphrey rising to well over 12,000 feet. It didn’t even phase me, because today I had reached my goal. The Christian life is one of steps. One step leads to another as we continue on with God.

The New Testament epistles provide an interesting list of steps such as: “Walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4), “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16), “Walk in the light” (1 Jn. 1:7), and “Walk by faith” (2 Cor. 5:7). Actually over fifteen are listed, depending on the Bible version used. Walking can be tiring and time consuming, but take that next step – you can make it! “What doth the Lord require of thee ... walk humbly with thy God” (Mic. 6:8).

By Tom Palmer