Tag: eternity

Uphill, Downhill

~ Sowmya Gali ~ 1 Comment

Many people will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths…”  Isaiah 2: 3

During one of my recent hikes, I was climbing up a steep hill. It is one of the most arduous hikes I’ve undertaken as the ascent is steadily steep for more than 300 feet. The gentle Holy Spirit prompted me to look at my posture as I was climbing up the hill. I was hunched forward with my knees slightly bent and my head bent low. Even though, I tried to look up and walk, I couldn’t do it for long. The only time I looked up was to assess the distance to reach the top of that hill. And so I forged ahead until I reached the top of the hill.

I was reminded of the story of Abraham when he took his son Isaac to sacrifice on Mount Moriah. As he ascended that mountain, he must’ve been walking in the same posture as I did; unaware of what lay ahead on top of the hill. A God who granted him a son in old age has now commanded him to sacrifice that very son on the top of the mountain. A perplexing situation but Abraham never questioned God instead obeyed Him. Somewhere along that ascension, Abraham must’ve realized that a God, who could provide him with a son in his old age, is well able to provide either with a sacrifice or another son to replace Isaac. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have assured his son Isaac when the boy questioned about the lamb.

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Genesis 22: 8

As we go through life, many a times we are climbing uphill, oblivious of what lay ahead. If we are not ascending to the mountain of the Lord, then we will miss out the promises and blessings that await us there. We are so accustomed to mediocrity that we dread to let ourselves step out in faith into oblivion. We contend ourselves with what we have. We assure ourselves that that is our lot and shouldn’t dream bigger. How disappointed must God be when He looks at us! Promise of a better life filled with abounding spiritual blessings, health and prosperity, and much more await us on top of that mountain that we are so reluctant to ascend. All God wants us is obey His call and start ascending, hunched forward, head bowed and on bended knees.

When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac on top of Mount Moriah, the angel of the Lord stopped him. God provided a ram. Father and son sacrificed the ram as a burnt offering instead. This experience led Abraham to believe and proclaim with confidence, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22: 14. The question that begs to be asked is, “what is stopping us to make that ascension?”

When I reached that hill top, I was left breathless of the beauty and magnificence that lay around and below me. From that pinnacle, I could see the beauty of God’s creation in all directions without any obstructions resulting in a changed perspective. From up there, all my problems seem so distant and small as I gazed at the beauty around me. I could see the easing of the traffic jams on the freeways ahead. I could see every bend in the road that I frequently travel. Everything from up there seemed plausible. Even on the distant horizon where the ocean meets the sky, I couldn’t discern the dividing line.

Now I could see what God wants me to see: HIM. Realized that God is bigger than anything we can see. From His perspective, all worries are trivial. Every obstacle can be conquered. We can turn fearlessly at life’s every blind corner. With that newly gained confidence in the Lord who provides, I started descending that hill. Once again, the gentle Holy Spirit reminded me of my posture. Now my shoulders are back, my legs straightened and I was leaning back to balance. My gait is confident as I have trodden that path already, fully aware of every bend, turn or obstacle that lay on the path.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8: 18

Forge ahead, my dear brothers and sisters, for the Lord who provides will meet you on top of the mountain. Let us learn His ways so we can walk in His paths. Abraham descended Mount Moriah joyful and confident in the Lord who provides.

Riding On The Coattails

~ Sowmya Gali ~ 1 Comment

Genesis 35: 6, 7

So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.

He built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother.

John 3: 3 – 6

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Noah was the first man to build an altar. He offered a thanksgiving sacrifice to God Almighty for preserving his family through the flood. Abraham built an altar when God spoke to him and he often called on the name of God. Isaac, observing his elderly father calling on the name of God, also built an altar at every new place he sojourned and called on the name of God Almighty often. Jacob was the last man in the book of Genesis to build an altar and call upon the name of God. His twelve sons neither built an altar nor called on the name of God.

Jacob, when he fled from the wrath of his brother Esau, encountered God on the way. He didn’t have means to set up an altar as he was on the run. However, he set up a stone as a reminder. Years later, when he comes back to the region, he first builds an altar at the same location where he first encountered God and calls on the name of the God. He wrestles with God and seeks His blessing. However, Jacob couldn’t instill the same devotion and loyalty to God in his children. Except for Joseph, none of the sons of Jacob worshiped God as their ancestors did. Joseph, for the most part of his life was in Egypt where he quietly worshiped God. He probably didn’t have means to set up altar and worship God. Despite being by himself, Joseph continued to worship God through his work, being kind and trusting God.

Jacob’s sons didn’t have faith of their own. They were riding on the coattails of the faith of their ancestors. Reuben defiled his father’s bed. Simeon and Levi went on a murderous rampage when their sister was defiled. Judah impregnated his own daughter-in-law. The ten sons of Jacob were jealous of Joseph as he was the beloved son of Jacob. Their jealousy even drove them to think of murdering their own brother. When Reuben interfered, they sold him as a slave.

If our ancestors lived righteous lives, then it is a wonderful blessing. Their lives and testimonies could inspire us to walk a closer walk with God. However, their faith cannot carry us into God’s Kingdom. We are on our own. We need to have a faith which is our own. We cannot ride on the coattails of our ancestors’ faith. When Nicodemus asked Jesus about the Kingdom of God, Jesus clearly stated that one needs to be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus never said that the faith of our ancestors is the entry ticket into the Kingdom of God.

We must believe in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He alone can save us. No other name can save us. No other faith can save us. No other deity can save us. Christ alone can save us. In order for us to enter into the Kingdom of God, we must have a personal relationship with Jesus each individually. We must be His true worshipers. At the altars of our hearts, we must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Our ancestors’ faith may be a wonderful inheritance but we cannot ride on the coattails of their faith. We are on our own. Let us embrace this truth and have that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Each individual’s journey of faith is unique. Yes, we may draw inspiration from others but unless we submit to Christ’s authority, we are doomed for destruction. Let us quit relying on the prayers and faith of others and trust God on our own. As God weaves a beautiful, colorful robe, let us ensure that we become part of that robe. Let us enter the Kingdom with hearts full of praise and thanksgiving. Let us become the true worshipers of our Savior as we await that great day when we will be clothed in a robe of righteousness, given a crown of glory and reign with our Savior for all eternity.