A long time ago, me and a group of men went hiking in the mountains. With backpacks strapped tightly onto our backs, we left a long trail of footprints. Deep into the mountains, as it slowly rolled upwards like massive steps, it opened up. Far to our back, a gradual climb from the lower Drakensberg. A large and open expanse of the middle Drakensberg surrounded us. Rolling grasslands, with the upper part of the mountain firmly overlooking us. Our group encountered another group of men. The same trail, walking the same narrow dirt path. We linked for a time, but soon it became clear that we had different destinations in mind. At a point, we started to imprint different paths as we split ways.
We see in John 14:2 Jesus explain that He is leaving to go prepare a place. We have a destination to go to — to be in the house of the Father. We see David in Psalm 23 proclaim that he wants to be in the house of God, forever. As Christians, our redemption opened the door for us to be in a relationship with God. Just as we could see our destination was far ahead of us, we were also, in fact, already on the mountain. In a sense, we had already reached our goal — but in another, it was still ahead of us.
How can we get there? We also see in John 14 that Thomas asked Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus replied that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father. This yearning to be with the Father is satisfied in Christ Jesus. Jesus proclaimed that He is the way. We see in friend groups that people start to pick up each other’s ways — we form each other. The followers of Jesus would have likewise started to pick up His ways. We should abide in Him, and love each other as He loved. Imitate Him. Be more like Him. Listen to Him. This is the distinguishing factor in determining who is walking the same path as you but has a different destination. How can we know if a house is built on stone or sand (Matthew 7:24–27)?
Jesus did not leave His disciples behind with nothing — He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us (John 14:26). We have a challenge. Not only do we walk a long and hard road, but this small road can intertwine with other paths that are not leading us to the destination. We have active wolves seeking to feed on us. Some walk beside us on the same path, but with dark intentions. They walk with you, on the same dirt path, leaving the same footprints — but their eyes are not on the mountains, they are fixed on you, and on their own bellies. Keep a keen eye on the Guide. You have to trust Him. He knows the way, and He can keep you safe from the wolves. They might bite at you, but He will get you to the destination.
In our lives, how does this look? What does it look like when we walk the path Christ walked, to imitate Him? What works do we do — not to be saved, but because we are saved? We see in Matthew 25 the talents left with three servants, unequally distributed. We also see in Luke 19, from verse 11, the ten servants who each received one mina. They were judged on their faithfulness in handling what they were entrusted with. We are expected to act faithfully with the gift of salvation, and with the ministering gifts we’ve received. We were entrusted, and should work with it. We see in Ephesians 4 that the saints must be equipped for good works. So let us love each other as Christ loved us. Let us serve each other with our gifts. Let love motivate us.
Early morning, with the sound of tents opening in a crisp and clear ‘zip.’ People emerge from their shelters at the foot of a high rising mountain. The previous day was a long and hard hike. Today, we are at the base of our destination. We have to reach a point just above us. We are surrounded by towering mountains. Before we finally moved to start our day, we all gathered together in a group — surrounded by the blanket-like clouds peering over the mountain edges, and the cold of the morning. We started to sing a song of worship to our great God. With the voices of a dozen men, we echoed into the morning, adoration to our great God.
With the mountains surrounding us, it echoed the idea that we want a relationship with God. Even in drawing nearer, even in being closer, this is an adventure that will always have more to find. All honour and glory to our God — may we seek to reflect back the love that we’ve been shown. Let us love one another in praise of the same God who first loved us.