Mountain Top Experience:
On Which Mountain Are You Standing?
Mount Shasta, in northern California, U.S. is a metaphysical mountain that draws spiritual seekers from across the globe. Also, Mount Horeb along Ife-Ilesha Road, and Oke Maria (Mount Mary) pilgrimage Center, Otan Aiyegbaju, both in Osun State of Nigeria are reputed prayer resorts for a sect of African and Catholic churches in South West Nigeria.
Mountains symbolize desires, dreams, and hopes. Because their appearance is enduring, they are perceived as sacred spaces where “human’s secular agonies are purified.”
With roots in biblical Mount Sinai, where God appeared to the Israelites, en route to the promised land, a mountain in people’s subconsciousness, represents an exalted state of the mind where the divine plan may be perceived and unfolded: A state of spiritual realization associated with personal divine encounter.
So, Mountains and high places in the Bible generally symbolize a higher state of mind. For example, Moses' ascent of Mt. Sinai is interpreted as an elevated state of contemplative prayer, affirmed by the Lord’s transfiguration on the mountain where he went to pray.
We see two mountains generating different energies: Sinai was awesome and deadly — no ordinary mortal could experience it and survive; Mt. of Transfiguration was also awesome, but gracious and welcoming; Peter wanted three tents built for Jesus, Moses and Elijah — the three illustrious personalities in the conference - capped by the voice of God, the Father affirming the Sonship and supremacy of Jesus. The message is “Hear Him” — Listen, hear, and obey Him.
‘High Mountain’ is perceived as a spiritual uplift, “the consciousness of power over mortal thoughts…” Going up the mountain to pray means elevating our thoughts and aspirations to a higher spiritual plane.
This belief is attested in Nigeria where one of the fast-growing churches is Mountain of Fire and Miracles — apparently creating a platform where fire can be called down upon perceived human and spiritual enemies.
There’s much around the mountains that draws people to them. Like there’s more to what meets the eye about Mount Sinai and Mount Zion vis-a-vis Mount Olivet in the Scriptures.
The writer of Hebrews gives us an insight into their distinct perspectives and points to the way forward. Addressing Jewish believers in Jesus, the writer draws attention to what set their new faith apart from Torah and Judaism. He says to them:
“You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; to a trumpet blast or such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them because they could not bear what was commanded: “if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death, the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear” (See Exodus 19:12-21).
The above speaks to the inadequacies of human efforts, self-righteousness and performance to stand before a Holy God.
And here’s the difference:
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12: 22-24).
Where are you in this?
That is, which of the two Mountains are you on? Are you still on Mount Sinai with all of its active agents of death - “burning fire”, darkness, gloom, and storm - in the conflict zone of this world? Your efforts and work of righteousness cannot save you there.
OR
Are you on Mount Zion, the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem - where mercy, grace, peace, and joy of Salvation abound in the company of thousands of (invisible) angels and the community of the Church of Christ - the firstborn, with your name written in heaven? Are you living in the realm of the spirit of the righteous - in Jesus who shed His blood of the new covenant to cover your sins?
On one Mountain are people living by Sight; On the other are those living by Faith. And because it is less challenging to live by sight on the broad way, over 95% of the human race (including Christians), live by sight, while only 5% of believers live by faith. They are the few that walk the narrow way.
It is little wonder that more and more professed Christians are drawn to Mount Sinai, where Christianity is defined by works, rituals, miracles, success, and prosperity.
Jesus commands, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Mattew 7: 13).
Also, in His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus said to her, the time has come when those who worship God are no longer required to go to the Temple in Jerusalem (Jews), or the mountain (Samaritans).
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and truth” (John 4:23).
Here’s what the apostle Paul tells us about God’s standard of salvation for all - Jews and Gentiles alike:
“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone” (Romans 9: 30-32).
Today, believers are called to ascend Mount Olivet with Jesus, learning at His feet, and be empowered to live out His teachings embodied in the Sermon on the Mount.
