Title: Mountains and Valleys
Contents
▒▒ Bible : Psalm 23:1~6
Deuteronomy 11:11 speaks of the land God promised the Israelites through Moses. “The land that you are going to acquire is a land of mountains and valleys, and it is a land that absorbs the rain from heaven.” The land flowing with milk and honey, which the Israelites dreamed of so much, is a land with mountains and valleys.
In the Bible, mountains represent places of encounter with God. It is the mountain where Moses met God and received the law. Elijah receives God's answer from Mount Carmel and sends rain to the land of Israel suffering from drought. The place where Jesus realized his existence and heard God's voice was also on the mountain. As such, in the Bible, mountains are a blessed place to meet God and a mysterious place.
On the other hand, as Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, we will not fear being harmed.” The valley means trouble, tears, and pain.
The fact that there are mountains and valleys in the land flowing with milk and honey that God gave to the people of Israel means that there are also mountains and valleys in our lives living in faith. Ladies and gentlemen, there are mountains and valleys ahead of us in 2008. Like green pastures and still waters, there are times when meeting God is so enchanting, but there are also times when we pass through the valley of the shadow of death. According to the Bible, the ancestors of faith we respect Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and Paul all experienced life in the mountains and valleys.
Why are there valleys in our lives? Through the story of Ayako Miura, we come to understand the meaning of the valley. Ayako Miura suffered from tuberculosis, spinal disease, Parkinson's disease, and skin diseases that swell all over her body, to the extent that her whole body is a general hospital. However, his pain and illness made him seek God and pray, and experience God's miracles in it. What, then, do we learn from the valley?
First, the valley makes us realize the glory on the mountain. Only those who have passed through the valley can experience the glory of God. Only those who have passed through the valley can deeply understand God's grace and be sure of God's presence.
Second, the valley makes a mature human being who resembles the Lord. No matter how long we live, we still have weaknesses and shortcomings. The valley turns our weaknesses into strengths and our weaknesses into strengths. Only those who have passed through the valley can become mature people who resemble the Lord.
Third, the person who crosses the valley becomes a person who can help others. Psalm 84 says, “As I passed through the valley of tears of darkness, God made it a place of many springs.” I say. Those who have gone through the Valley of Tears can help because they know the suffering of others who have passed through the Valley of Tears. So you can make a spring that springs up there. As Henri Nouwen says in the book "The Wounded Healer", only the wounded can heal the wounded. Only those who have been forgiven can forgive others. Only those who have been loved can show love to others.
There are mountains and valleys in our life. Jesus took his disciples and went up to Mount Tabor. On that mountain, Jesus is transformed into a glorious figure. When the disciples saw this, they said, “Jesus, I will build three huts here. One for Jesus, one for Moses, one for Elijah, this is so good. The disciples wanted to stay on the mountain. But Jesus led the disciples back down to the bottom of the mountain. As they descend the mountain, a father brings a child possessed by a demon. And cry out to Jesus. “Jesus, look at this child. Doesn't this child still go into that fire? Aren't you going into the water and lying on your back, biting the foam? I brought this child to the disciples to be healed, but they can't. What can I do?”
There is pain in the valley. I have a disease. There is sadness. There is pain. Jesus did not leave the disciples who said, “I like it on that mountain” there, but brought them down into the valley. And he performed a precious work of healing that demon-possessed child.
Jesus never makes us live on a mountain. He makes them live in the valleys. There is a clear purpose of Jesus. People who live on the mountain often live without knowing the joy of being on the mountain. Our life is like that. The reason God gives us valleys and mountains is so that we may become glorified beings like Christ.
Our lives are always repeated with mountains and valleys. But what is clear is that God is with us in the valleys, and He is with us in the mountains. Not only that, but passing through the valleys allows beautiful and glorious mountains. And he does not let us dwell on the mountain forever, but gives us the valley again to train us further. Passing through that valley, he also gives us a very nice and beautiful mountain. Everyone, please don't worry too much about the future life in 2008.
When you meet a valley, you say, ‘Oh, God is with me!’ Now, look out over the mountain God has given you. If you are on a mountain, I hope you will win with the belief that ‘This is not the place where I will stay forever, but God will also give me a valley for training!’ I pray in the name of the Lord that all of you will be transformed into God's glorious beings as you pass through the mountains and valleys.
2008-02-16 11:39:48