DAY 14

BEYOND THE MOUNTAINTOP

DR. MIKE KITSKO, DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, EASTERN MICHIGAN DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

In Exodus, Moses climbed the mountain and began to shine. Time after time, Moses would climb to be in God’s presence. Upon that mountain, God spoke to Moses. Moses listened and took on a shine. Upon that mountain, God gave Moses ten words (we call them Ten Commandments). The people who were following Moses at God’s direction wondered where Moses went and what was taking Moses so long.

When Moses descended from his mountaintop experience, the story retold how the “skin of Moses’ s face was shining brightly.” Transformation happened to Moses while he was in God’s presence on the mountaintop. His transformation was real, personal, and deeply valued. His transformation was evident to the people all around. Exodus narrates that Moses covered his brilliantly shining brightness with a veil. The brightness reflecting off Moses’s face scared the people. Have you ever wanted that kind of experience?

As a teen, I remember having some “mountaintop” experiences. Experiencing great times alone in God’s presence. I felt transformed. One time was on a literal mountain. I was sitting early one morning with my back against a large pine tree reading my Bible. I still remember the moment I read that “even the demons believe and shudder” (James 2:19b). That moment, in the cool of a fall morning, alone with God, shaped me. In God’s presence while on the mountain top, I realized the explicit need for my faith to move beyond belief and into tangible action. While faith must be personal, it should never remain private.

One fear I have is how often Christians organize their lives around the pursuit of additional mountaintop experiences. There is an almost addictive quality to the spiritual high coming from the mountaintop. Therefore, we want more of them. They are valuable. They are important. Many people have come to know the saving and sanctifying work of God on mountaintops.

Exodus narrates how Moses covered his face with a veil after his mountaintop experience. He would take the veil off in God’s presence and receive his spiritual fix. His face shined so brightly people were scared. Moses would cover up again. Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Who among us wants to experience God’s presence in that same fashion? 

However, what about the rest of the story? The Apostle Paul wrote of Moses’s mountaintop moment but added a statement not included in Exodus.

We aren’t like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites couldn’t watch the end of what was fading away. 2 Corinthians 3:13

Did you catch it? “...couldn't watch the end of what was fading away.” The bright effects of the mountaintop faded away. Sobering. Many people spend time seeking experiences that will immediately begin fading away.

I don’t want to seek experiences. I want to seek Christ. I want to practice living in the Way of Jesus. Ongoing. Daily. Real. Vulnerable. Transparent. The Spirit makes our hearts his home. Because of his close residence, we can daily commune with God. We can be transformed daily. We don’t need the shine that comes from the mountain, but we do need the Christlikeness which comes from doing the day-to-day work of prioritizing our relationship with Christ for the sake of the people around us. The world around us needs a Christlikeness which does not fade. Would you join me in practicing the Way of Jesus for the sake of God’s mission to the world?

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for meeting us on the mountain tops, but also in the everyday moments of life. Teach us to seek You not just for an experience, but for a daily walk that transforms us into the likeness of Jesus. Help us to live unveiled lives so that Your love and light shine through us to those around us. Keep us faithful, steady, and devoted to You each day. In Your name we pray. Amen.