Keep Climbing Up

While living in Colorado we would see people who were mountain climbers. The ones who enjoy this exercise of endurance and skill often like to compare peaks and share experiences.

It is said that when European climbers get together to swap stories, they frequently tell of passing a certain grave along the trail to a famous peak. On the marker is a man's name and this inscription: "He died climbing."

Mountain climbing is like a picture of our life of faith. As long as we live, we are to continue moving upward--learning more about God, growing in our relationship with Jesus, becoming stronger in our battle with temptation, pushing ahead in telling the lost about Christ.

The book of Hebrews puts it this way: "Let us run with patience." The words with patience may be translated "with perseverance" ,"endurance", or more commonly, "to the end."

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Heb 12:1)

The apostle Paul was this type of person. He began his climb on the road to Damascus. In his lifetime he scaled many high peaks, finally ending up in Rome. At the close of his life, Paul was still urging the believers to serve God faithfully.

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. {2} And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. {3} Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. {4} No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. {5} And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. {6} The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. {7} Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. (2 Tim 2:1-7)

Pastor Rick Wheeler

You can email Pastor Rick Wheeler with any questions you may have regarding this letter.