 |
| Source: Uknown |
Mark 9:2-3 (NIV)
“…Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where
they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach
them.”
We stood
just behind the long black curtains trying to peek through the opening. We
wanted a glimpse of the people in the seats. We were way too anxious to stay in
the “Green Room” where we were supposed to be waiting. Our hearts were pounding.
What (in this world) are we doing?
I’ll
tell you exactly what my husband and I were doing – following God. We followed
Him right out onto that stage where upwards of 70 high school students and
their volunteer leaders sat in the audience. We were about to experience an
amazing mountaintop gift, designed by our Master Thrill Provider. It would be
one we would not soon forget.
Mountaintop
experiences are rampant throughout the Bible. There was Abraham’s willingness
to sacrifice Isaac, Moses bringing down the Ten Commandments, the Holy Spirit
filling Elizabeth while she was pregnant with John (the Baptist), and Peter’s
miraculous walk on water – to name a few. They are marked throughout our lives
as well. These experiences are defined by moments where we know we are living
out God’s purpose for our lives and, because of that, we experience God on such
an intimate level that we are left feeling nothing but fully alive. It is more
than a roller coaster ride. It’s a life-is-filled-and-overflowing ride. It is a
gift from Him – the One from Whom all blessings flow.
Jesus’
transfiguration high on that mountaintop with his disciples is described in three
of the Gospels in the Bible. It is a thrilling moment – one where Moses and
Elijah make appearances too. Mark 9:2-3 (NIV) says, “…Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where
they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach
them.” These
three disciples were gifted the opportunity to experience Jesus in a Holy
light. Then, Jesus asked them not to share the details of the experience with
anyone until after His death – until a specified time. I imagine those three
followers of Christ must have come down from that mountaintop with an amazing
spiritual high. Surely, their relationship with Jesus was forever changed.
I imagine this because it is precisely how my husband and I
felt after spending 90 minutes speaking to those teenagers at our church. God
had pressed into our hearts a desire to do something good with something that
had been horrific. God wanted to use our story to fill in the gaps of the
ministry leader’s teachings. That is what our life stories will do if we allow
God to use them – they fill in the gaps. Afterwards, teenagers and leaders
alike shared how they were deeply touched. God’s message was received in part
through our willingness to share our story. My husband and I have never felt so
aligned with God’s will. We have never felt so alive. I can describe it as a
rush of adrenaline mixed with a joy that cannot be contained. It lasted a long
time. In fact, I still feel the rush of energy and joy if I reflect back on
that night. I honestly believe I was transfigured (completely changed in form or appearance into a more spiritual state
that glorifies) by God simply because we had obeyed His promptings to
partner with the high school ministry at our church. My relationship with Jesus
has not been the same since that evening.
What is one of your mountaintop experiences? Reflect on it.
Remember it. Give thanks for the gift of that moment. And just as He did with
Peter, James, and John, perhaps God will want you to share it with others – at
just the right time. Better yet … perhaps God will ask you to turn that moment
into your calling – one that has no end and that will transfigure you in
service to Jesus.
© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment