Mountain tops and valleys
by Goran Andersson
Christian life is not primarily lived on the mountaintops, but in the valleys. The transfiguration mountain was not to be home to the apostles. They were not to enjoy an undisturbed fellowship with Jesus, Moses and Eljah, but were to mingle with suffering, disturbed and hopeless people, together with Jesus. The contrast between the mountaintop and the valley was enormous.
It’s human for us to desire the good days, but it’s not right to expect that to mean staying on the mountain for ever! The mountain is light, and the valley is darkness; the mountain is revelations and understanding, the valley is challenges and needs. But even so the very best days may be in the valley, because it’s there we see Jesus at work, and the demons must give way. It’s in the valley the needs of the many are being met, and the not-so-fortunate get their touch from Jesus.
The man didn’t bring his son up the mountain, Jesus had to go down to him. Had Peter started building shelters on the mountain, the boy wouldn't have received healing. The temptation to seek too much time in the shining light has a price, and that price may have to be paid by someone in the dark valley.
Followers of Jesus, where do you want to spend this day? Yes, this day may be a day on the mountain, but then, where do you want to spend tomorrow? And if you were on the mount with Jesus today, did you gain more understanding of what He can do in the valley?
Peter didn’t often speak about that day with Moses and Elijah. He didn’t talk about it to let others know that he had been chosen to be there at that historical moment. But the experience on the mount remained with him as a source of assurance that the word of God is true (2 Peter 1:17-18). And it motivated him to let others know who Jesus is. He had understood the message, and was no longer afraid to go into the valleys. The Pentecost in Jerusalem may have been another experience like the one on the mountain, but this time Peter didn’t express a desire to remain in the upper room. He was ready to take the message to the public places of Jerusalem.
The vision in Simon´s house in Joppa was extraordinary, but again, Peter was ready to go into the valley, represented by the gentile Cornelius´ house. It was the people in Cornelius´ house that needed Peter´s message about Jesus. And if it was in Simon`s house the revelation came, it was in Cornelius´ house the results were seen and God´s glory revealed.
Don’t fear the darkness of the valley! That’s the place where your light will be seen, and where lives will be transformed. Go there, in God`s time, without hesitation!
Goran Andersson , together with his wife Roswitha, worked as missionaries in Japan from 1967 – 1985. They then pastored a church before moving to Kåfalla Herrgård, Sweden where Goran became Director. They have worked with Ellel Ministries since 2004 and are now part of the team of Ellel Ministries in Sweden.
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