WHEN ALL YOU KNOW WHAT BREAKS LOOSE

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 3:14 NASB)

A small group of mountain climbers set out to climb a high mountain without the master mountain climber who had trained them, guided them and graciously helped them learn the art of scaling high summits.  When I say that they set out to climb a high mountain, I man a really high mountain; so high that the pinnacle of the mountain could not be seen.  It was so high that it could not be climbed in a matter of a few hours or even one day.  Therefore, on the first day of the climb, when nighttime came, the climbers pitched their tents on a plateau; planning to continue the journey the next day.  After praying, they lay down to sleep, tucked in their sleeping bags, cozy and warm on a peaceful night.  The stars lit up the sky.  The wind was low, the ground was dry, and there was no sight of even a drop of precipitation.  Excuse the exaggerated expression, but it was like heaven on earth.  They forgot what their master climber had taught them, “Sometimes nighttime brings unexpected troubles, strong storms, and plunging temperatures.”  Well, on that night, as you have probably guessed already, hard rains fell at a ferocious speed.  The rains loosed some rocks above them.  One rock was sent in motion, downward.  It gained steam and strength and one rock hit another and all of a sudden, in a domino like effect, there was an avalanche of rocks heading in their direction.  One of the committed climbers commented, “All you know what is breaking loose.”  To make a long story short, let me give you the good ending.  All of the climbers survived.  You would think that they would have discontinued the climb, but no way, they were committed to the climb and they pressed upward toward the peak of the mountain.

Listen!  There will be times in our lives, on this Christian journey, as we press upward toward the mark; times where it seems like all you know what is breaking loose?   Yes, there will be times when we are faced with great troubles, grand tribulations, and in general, a multiplicity of problems, all converging on you at the same time.  It’s not a question of if you will face times when it looks like all you know what is breaking loose.  It is only a question of when.  And then there is another question.  How will you respond?  I suggest that you look at Job’s experiences.

A nomadic people attack and kill his field hands, except one, and steal his animals.  Bolts of lightning strike his sheep and burn up his sheep and his shepherds.  His children, having a party at the time at the home of the oldest brother and a tornado hits the house, which fell on the young people.  His sons and his daughters died.  Yes, this Old Testament figure can speak to what is feels like when all you know what is breaking loose.  Many will walk away from their faith when they experience such a breaking loose.  But I suggest that you do what Job did at first.  Job worshipped the Lord.  His worship changed his perspective too: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I’ll return to the earth.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

There is much more to learn in The Book of Job, but for the purposes of this meditation, remember to do as Job when all you know what breaks loose in your life.  The Bible says, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”  Hold on my friend!  Stay faithful!  Stay committed to the climb; committed to planting your feet on higher ground!  The climbers in the opening story survived, blessed!  Job survived too and was blessed!  The same can happen to you!  Be blessed!

“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord restored all that job had twofold.” (Job 42:10 NASB)

Still committed to the climb,

Mark L. King