“Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!” (Quote by Ingrid Bergman)
We are approaching December 31st. As I have shared with you previously, that is the date set for the last edition of Mark Writes meditations. During these nine years, daily I have not failed to indicate my continued commitment to the climb, and I hope I have helped you to continue to press on toward the mark of your higher calling in Christ Jesus.
Regardless of what you face as you climb higher and higher, the way you view things gets better and better as you age spiritually in your walk with the Lord. When you were at a lower plane on your climb, you saw the problem and not the Problem Solver. You saw the hurdle you had to overcome, and not the very present Help that would reveal to all that you are an overcomer. Do you remember how you viewed anxious moments that threatened to destroy you in one way or the other, instead of seeing the Almighty who would deliver you? Yes, like the rest of us, you saw troubles at the lower plane, just plain oblivious to the One that allows us to declare with great hope, “Trouble don’t last always!” Early on the climb you had some leftover tendencies to depend on your indoctrinated, instinctive abilities, as opposed to trusting in the Lord, leaning not on our own understanding. You are not alone. We all did that at the beginning stages of our climb, not defeated the acculturated tendencies we all develop.
Listen! The last clause in the quote above, spoken by the celebrated actress, Ingrid Bergman, is applicable as we journey upward on the Christian journey: “…but the view is much better!” The view is much better as we mature as believers! We learned not only to trust in God, but we had a better view, even when we could only see it by faith! Now, we easily see hope over hopelessness, purposefulness over pure meaningless, truth over teachings that are false, and we clearly see the wisdom of God superb to the ways of the world. The view is clearer as we stay committed to the climb! We don’t just see that we are not exempt from all things, but we see that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. We don’t see the end of anything as a mere conclusion, but we see the new beginning that comes forth with whatever God has next for us in this life.
My friend, let me encourage you once again to keep climbing! Stay committed to the climb! Stay motivated by viewing in your mind the blessings of our Promised Land! Now, go out and have a great day! Enjoy the view as you are now more apt to see how the Lord is still blessing you, keeping you, and loving you. Praise ye the Lord! Be blessed!
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 The Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
The view is better the higher you get in any vantage point. Trusting in God has always been the way to go. The higher you get with God, the better view you have from a Christ-like perspective. Our desire to reach out to the Lord becomes part of who we are and in we will be better in mind, spirit, and soul.
I like you lens, “a Christ-like” perspective. Great response, as usual!
Lord as I contiue to climb higher make me better, Trust in the Lord with alll my heart and lean not to my own understanding; in all my ways ackowledge him, and he will make your path straight.
Thanks for responding and sharing your personal prayer! You are on the climb! Be blessed!