Change Your World Pt. 5

Pastor Ryan Binkley

4 minute read

 

Let’s Go to the Mountain

The idea of going to the mountain is not new to humanity. Throughout history, people have gone to the mountains to seek guidance or have an encounter with the divine.  And scripture is where we find key references to the journey to the mountains as places where God speaks.

In all my years following Jesus, I’ve had my own “mountain top” experiences. Mine often come in dreams, like the one where God showed me an economic resurgence was coming through Richardson. God can take any moment in your life and make it something truly elevating.

In Hebrews 12:18-21, we read about THE original mountain top experience at Mount Sinai, where God appeared in fire, darkness, and whirlwind, and His voice was so terrible that the people begged Him to stop speaking. Even Moses was terrified and trembling. It was this same mountain that God delivered the 10 Commandments to Israel. 

However, in Hebrews 12:22-24, we read about a different kind of mountain. This is Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. This place is full of joy and celebration, where countless angels assemble in praise, and the righteous are made perfect through Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant. It is a place of hope and promise, where the blood of Jesus speaks of a better world. 

The contrast between these two mountains is striking. One place is forever remembered as a place of fear and trembling, and the other is of joy and celebration. One is associated with the old covenant, the other with the new. One is characterized by the law, the other by grace.

Yet, both mountains have this in common. They are places where God speaks to His people. In Exodus 3:3, we read about Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. He sees a strange sight, a bush that is on fire but does not burn up. Curious, he approaches the bush, and God calls him to a mission to free His people from slavery in Egypt.

But the mountain is not only a place of calling; it is also a place of refuge and safety! In Psalm 121:1-2, we read about the psalmist lifting his eyes to the mountains, wondering where his help comes from. He knows that his help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. It is a place where gather to find hope in times of trouble. As I look at the current wars (and rumors of wars), I cry out that everyone at Create would rest in His shelter!

In Matthew 14:23, we read about Jesus going up on a mountain by Himself to pray. He had just fed the five thousand, and the crowds wanted to make Him king. But Jesus knew that His kingdom was not of this world. He needed to spend time alone with His Father, seeking His will and His guidance.

The mountain is a place of encounter with God, where He speaks to His people, calls them to a mission, and sends them out. But the mountain is also a place of obedience. In Exodus 19:4-6, God reminds the Israelites of what He has done for them and what He expects of them. If they obey Him fully and keep His covenant, they will be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. The mountain is not just a place of encounter with God; it is also a place of obedience. 

And so, we are called to go to the mountain, to seek God’s guidance, find peace, and have an encounter with the divine.