But man, I respect those who have done it!
Now, smaller mountains that you can get to the top and back in a day (like Grandfather Mountain or Buffalo Mountain) I enjoy. Of course, that’s more like really strenuous hiking and there’s not much “climbing” involved!
Either way- in thinking about what it must take to climb (or hike to the top of) a mountain, there are literally thousands of steps to make it to the summit and to return. However, on it’s most basic level, getting to the peak of a mountain requires taking a next step- whatever that happens to be. It’s doing what is right in front of you right now. You can’t get to the summit if you don’t start out at the base, so to speak.
There’s actually a really good point to be made in our relationship with Jesus when it comes to that kind of thinking.
Every single one of us has a next step that Jesus is calling us towards right now.
We can often tend to focus on the “big picture” of where God is calling us. And I get that! I’m a big picture guy. I’m not really into the details of things.
However- the way we get to the “big picture” (the ultimate goal, so to speak) is not by wishing our way there. It’s by taking one step after another.
In the same way, the way we grow in our relationship with Jesus- the way we step towards a lifestyle that is truly worship to God- is not by wishing our way there or magically getting there overnight.
We get there by taking the next step.
More specifically, we move in that direction by doing the one thing Jesus is telling us to do right now.
Here’s a great example: In Matthew 4, when Jesus calls the first disciples, watch what He says- and how they respond:
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.- Matthew 4:19-20 (NIV)
Notice: Jesus spoke and told them what they would do: fish for people. However, they didn’t immediately go and fish for people.
Instead- they left their nets- because they couldn’t go and fish for people without first leaving the nets.
So here’s the question we need to wrestle with: what is Jesus calling me to do now? What is the next step He is leading me towards? Sure, you may have an idea of “where” Jesus is calling you- but what has to happen right now for you to begin to move in that direction?
Jesus never leads us to “next” until we follow through on what He’s telling us to do right now. It’s as we obey Him right now and do what He’s put right in front of us that He leads us to next, and our entire lives are meant to be simply a repeat of that pattern: Jesus commands, we listen, and we do what He says.
And that is ultimately the point because THAT is worship.