Climbing the Wrong Mountain
By David Faust
Hebrews 12 compares two mountains. Mount Sinai was dark and scary, and for most people it was unapproachable. Even Moses confessed that God’s holy presence on the mountain made him tremble with fear. Fortunately for us, Jesus is “the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 12:24), so we are invited to a different kind of mountaintop experience. “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” On this heavenly mountaintop there are “thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly” along with “the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven” (vv. 22-23).
These two mountains illustrate two different approaches to life. The mountain called Law is a rugged one, too steep to conquer. We slip and fall again and again on that rocky trail. We will never make it to the top by our own efforts. The mountain called Grace is rugged, too, but instead of trying to struggle our way to the top, we trust the Son of God to lift us in his arms and carry us up to the Father.
ON THE WRONG PATH
Trying to climb the mountain of Law will leave us frustrated and exhausted. How can we tell if we are on the wrong path?
We may be climbing the wrong mountain if we are constantly at odds with others. God’s grace enables us to be gracious. Jesus predicted that the world would hate those who love him (John 15:18-23) so we’ll never please everyone, but we don’t have to be chronically cranky. Hebrews 12 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone” (v. 14). Heavenly wisdom makes people “pure . . . peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). If interpersonal conflict follows everywhere you go, maybe you’re trying to climb the wrong mountain.
We are climbing the wrong mountain if we have grown comfortable with sin. The writer urges us to “be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). We’re saved by grace, but we shouldn’t be nonchalant about right and wrong. God’s mercy motivates us to say “no” to ungodliness. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
We may be climbing the wrong mountain if we are filled with bitterness. “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (v. 15). Roots grow underground, so they’re not obvious on the surface. The problem is, bitter roots lead to bitter fruit. On this side of Heaven, God doesn’t spare us from all hurts and disappointments, but our souls don’t have to turn sour. The Holy Spirit produces a sweet crop of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Christ transports us to heights we could never reach on our own, taking us to scenic summits where we can “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). That’s what it’s like on the mountain of Grace.
Personal Challenge: Talk with a trusted friend about the comparison between the two mountains presented in this article. Ask each other, “What is the difference between trying to climb the mountain of Law and letting the Lord carry you up the mountain of Grace?”
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