Reflections at the Summit: A Summit of Promise

 

Reflections at the Summit

Week One

A Summit of Promise

Focus Text: Genesis six-nine

Bible Reading: Philippians 2-Colossians 4

      A few years ago my family and I traveled to the Midwest for a family reunion.  This was my first time ever meeting my wife's 'midwest' family and it was also my first time traveling to the Midwest.  One of the most shocking things was the change of terrain.  I had lived my entire life surrounded by the gentle rolling mountains of the tri-state area, needless to say the Midwest is absent of mountains.  The landscape was eerily flat.  Cornfields went on and on and on without one tiny hill.  I could see a stop sign on the horizon that would literally take MINUTES to get to.  The change of scenery strangely made me feel uncomfortable.  The absence of mountains unnerved me.  The mountains bring about the fondest of memories of home and hearth.

      Some of the most powerful moments in the Bible have taken place at mountains.  We are going to start a new set of reflections looking at the important spiritual truths that are permanently tied to a mountain range.  Our first mountain range is Ararat.  This mountain is first mentioned in Genesis chapters 6-9.  The Bible makes it clear that spiritual darkness hung over humanity at the time.  Scripture shares that every thought and intent of man's heart was only evil continually.  The heart of man is always prone to sin because of our broken nature, but that particular time period seems to have been unique in it's bend to evil.  This mass wickedness broke the heart of God.  God, who is just, determined that He would wipe clean the face of the earth.  But one man found grace in the eyes of God, that man was named Noah.  Noah and his family were tasked with a seemingly impossible job, building an ark.  The ark would be a vessel for humanities salvation, if they choose to enter.  For 120 years Noah built and preached.  For 120 years man continued their downward spiral.  Finally God called Noah and his family to enter an ark filled with animals.  God shut the door and the clouds began to burst forth rain, the earth cracked springing forth more water.  It rained for 40 days and 40 nights.  The water covered the highest peak and wiped out all life.  As the water receded the ark rested on a mountain named Ararat.  Noah and his families journey on the ark lasted over a year!  

      Shortly after exiting the ark God made a promise with Noah.  We call this promise the Noahic covenant.  It is found in Genesis 9:12-17.  At the base of Ararat God promises Noah (and us) that He will never destroy the earth with a flood of water.  He guarantees His promise with the rainbow that is set in the sky.  God has kept that promise through the ages and will continue to keep that promise.  This promise to Noah is not the only one that God makes with mankind.  The Bible contains countless thousands of promises from the Lord, each of them geared toward us.  God's promises are abundant in number but they are also unbreakable in their nature.  They are sealed and bound by God's own Word.  God cannot break His Word and thus cannot break His promise.  His promises are unfailing and unending.  We have a God who is not just a promise maker but a great promise keeper.  When God says something we can believe it and claim it.  We have no reason to doubt Him, for He has never once failed.

Reflections on the Road:

Anxiety and stress lay at each corner of life.  It seems like it greets us as soon as we open our eyes.  This week allow God's promises to calm the anxiety of your heart.  Turn that anxiety to assurance, that worry to worship, that doubt to determination.  Rest in His unfailing promises to you.

Reflections on the Road: Week Six

Reflections on the Road

Week Six

"God Provides Peace"

Focus Passage: Psalm 23

Focus Verse: Psalm 23:2

Bible Reading: Mark 8-14

      Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.  The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.  As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.  A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

     The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind, and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.  A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. (Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46)

      Peace is the long-sought for jewel of our world and yet never found.  History estimates that in the last 4000 years that we have enjoyed less than 300 years of peace.  We have created leagues, treaties, and organizations that have sought for peace, and yet it is nothing more than a fleeting vision.  The reason why is that they are seeking peace outside of the Good Shepherd.  In Psalm 23:2 the sheep declares "He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters."  Talk about a picturesque scene, the epitome of peace.  The sheep, who we have already said is defenseless and helpless, finds peace in the care of the shepherd.  So peaceful that he can lay down in the face of troubles and be calm, knowing that his Shepherd is watching him.  The waters are not raging, but it is still water.  Typically a shepherd goes to raging waters that scare the sheep and digs a trench of still waters for the sheep.  The water is still raging in the distance, but the shepherd gives the sheep a sweet calm.  That is what our shepherd does in this life for us as His sheep.  He provides us with a peace, a peace that the Bible says passes all our understanding.  We can look at the chaos and despair of our world and find peace.  The reason why is because our Good Shepherd doesn't just provide us with peace, but according to Ephesians 2:14, He is our peace.  If we know the Good Shepherd we can find peace in the chaos and we can rest

Reflections on the Road:
If you are currently struggling to be anchored to peace write this verse down and apply it to your life.  Realize that the storm does not always stop raging BUT when you are in the presence Good Shepherd you can rest in perfect peace.