Ten Miles from the Top
June 2009
We were finally experiencing our long awaited vacation. My family and I were taking the long trip to the Carolinas. It had been 23 years since I had visited and I was eager to see the scenery. Although we enjoyed sightseeing, shopping, visiting with family and admiring the beautiful landscapes we were all anxious to do what we came to do and that was to drive in the mountains.
That afternoon we planned to venture where I had never been before. I was excited as we made our ascent into God’s wonderful creation. As we carefully drove up the curving roads we stopped at each overlook. The view of the trees and clouds against the backdrop of the parallel mountains were breathtaking. As we drove further it began to rain but it did not deter us because the higher we went the view became more amazing. Our goal was to reach the top where we were told we would find a beautiful waterfall.
Then visitors in an approaching car warned us of the storm ahead and that we should turn back. We were less than ten miles away from reaching the top but we took their advice and turned back. I will forever wonder what it would have felt like to reach the top.
Many Christians have made this same mistake. Not so much in the literal sense but in a spiritual one. The mention of mountains in the bible is the symbolism used for our greatest trials and tests. We have certain goals that we desire to reach and opportunities we would like to experience. The road to our possible destination is filled with unexpected curves and we are not sure what is around the next corner. We continue on our journey as long as the experience is favorable. But when we see the storm ahead we begin to panic and doubt takes over and we wonder if it is possible to even reach our goal. The first resistance we encounter makes us want to give up and retreat.
If we give in to fear we will never know what it feels like to reach the top. We will never realize what beauty lies ahead. Maybe if we had continued on our route we would have driven through the storm and witnessed one of nature’s most wondrous sights. It is sad when we miss the blessings of God because we can’t stand through the storm. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Enduring the storm in the beginning is worth the sunshine in the end.
