Hill Climbers (Part 6) (Psa. 24:3)

Conclusion:

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?” (Psa. 24:3)

• Those who are discontent to remain on a plateau.
• Those who will exert themselves – stretch, bend and move (instead of making excuses).
• Those who will remind themselves of the ultimate goal. They are climbing because of what they will see at the summit!
• Those who will take seriously a lifestyle of practical holiness.
• Those who will persevere.

What hill are you climbing? If the hill you are climbing is not the hill of the Lord, then you are squandering a golden opportunity.  

While you might not be climbing the hill of the Lord now, one day you will bow before the Lord of your hill. Your journey, regardless of whom or what you pursued, will end. Unless you walked on the path of holiness and climbed God's hill, you will spend eternity away from His presence and in torment. What a horror to realize you were on the wrong path! What a horror to realize you started the climb but decided it wasn't worth it!

To those who are on the ascent:  Remember, while there is joy in the journey, the goal of the ascent is to make it to the summit, where you will see the face of your Savor and enjoy being with Him for eternity.  

Hill Climbers (Part 5) (Psa. 24:3)

Who May Ascend Into The Hill of The Lord?

THOSE WHO WILL PERSEVERE MAY ASCEND INTO THE HILL OF THE LORD.

Those who persevere will continue climbing when others camp out permanently at rest stops.

Those who persevere will continue climbing when they encounter those who are on their way down. Sadly, this upward path of righteousness is filled with casualties – those who started but chose not to finish.

• It is not that they were disillusioned; it is that they became undisciplined.
• It is not that they couldn't make the climb; it is that they didn't count the cost.
• It is not that they got discouraged; it is that they might have been disqualified right from the start.

I've said it enough that it is almost a mantra around here: If the process is wrong, the product will be wrong.  Those who are too easily saved are too easily swayed. While we don't want to make salvation complicated, I fear that we have made it easy. Those who have traveled uphill toward Jesus for a while will confirm that simplicity shouldn't be mistaken for ease.

The path of grace is a toll road: Getting on the road costs nothing and every mile marker you pass will still be because of grace; however, staying on the toll road of grace requires everything you have. You don't get to drive however you want on the turnpike of grace.

What a wonderful day it was when you began your journey with Jesus! How many of you remember that day?

How are you doing right now? Do you need a little extra gas in your tank? The fuel you seek is called perseverance.  The journey may indeed get sweeter, but it isn't going to get any easier. You might have to fight and claw for every step you take. When your journey is over, will you be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith”? (2 Tim. 4:7)

Hill Climbers (Part 4) (Psa. 24:3)

Who May Ascend Into The Hill of The Lord?

THOSE WHO WILL TAKE SERIOUSLY A LIFESTYLE OF PRACTICAL HOLINESS MAY ASCEND INTO THE HILL OF THE LORD.

Let's distinguish between positional holiness and practical holiness.

Positional holiness has to do with justification, which is the “standing” you have with God because of what His Son, Jesus, did for you on the cross.  Positional holiness is provisional holiness. It is available and accessible, though not automatic. God does not force His holiness upon you. Grace, which is a byproduct of God's holiness, is available as a free gift that awaits your acceptance.

Practical holiness has to do with sanctification, which is the natural extension of and behavioral conformity to the demand of your position. Practical holiness is also known as progressive holiness. It is not enough to begin in right standing and assume that is the end. Holiness that was imputed must lead to holiness that is implemented. In other words, the lifestyle must reflect the claim.“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Jesus' hill climbers realize that Hebrews 12:14 is still incumbent and relative. “Pursue . . . the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”

Hill Climbers (Part 3) (Psa. 24:3)

Who May Ascend Into The Hill of The Lord?

THOSE WHO WILL PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR WHAT THEY WILL FIND AT THE

SUMMIT MAY ASCEND INTO THE HILL OF THE LORD.

What do you get when you arrive at the summit of the Lord's hill? At the top of the hill of the Lord you will discover the Lord Who made the hill. At the end of your upward trek you will see Jesus Himself. What a reward for those who climbed faithfully!

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

Even after my skin is destroyed,

Yet from my flesh I shall see God;

Whom I myself shall behold,

And whom my eyes will see and not another.

My heart faints within me!” (Job 19:25-27)

Did you notice the mixture of anticipation and fear in those verses?  Job looked forward

to seeing His Redeemer, but understood that particular sight would overwhelm Him.  

Job was not alone in this.

• Isaiah (Isa. 6:1-5)
• Ezekiel (Ezek. 1:26-28)
• John (Rev. 1:12-18)

Is the point that we should be afraid of Jesus when we see Him face-to-face? The answer is both yes and no.

• Yes. There needs to be a healthy, godly fear. It is called reverence.
• No. There doesn't need to be an unhealthy, stifling fear. If you are a believer in Jesus, then you should remember that the One Whom you are hoping to see has Himself removed the obstacle that would cause you crippling fear. Jesus “ . . . through His own blood . . . entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”(Heb. 9:12)

Hill Climbers (Part 2) (Psa. 24:3)

Who May Ascend Into The Hill of The Lord?

THOSE WHO WILL EXERT THEMSELVES – THAT IS, STRETCH, BEND AND MOVE –  MAY ASCEND INTO THE HILL OF THE LORD.

As I've interacted with congregants who are over the age of 60, I've heard them say repeatedly that one of the keys to successful aging is to keep moving. Seniors know that, when you stop moving, it should be because you are dead. Those who do not keep moving will, eventually, not be able to move.

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col. 2:6) That word 'walk' suggests activity, not passivity.

Climbing a hill, including the hill of the Lord, requires energy, effort and discipline.  The Christian walk contains nothing that is automatic. There is no spiritual teleporter that you step into, then have someone push a button as you say, “Beam me up, Jesus.” That worked in the television show “Star-Trek”, but has no value in real-life walking toward Jesus. (Yes, I'm aware of the Rapture, but that's not our subject today.)

What would it look like if you determined right now, “I'm going to be more careful, intentional and disciplined in my upward pursuit of Jesus? Don't say, “I have attained.” Don't say, “I have arrived.” Don't say, “There is no room for improvement.”

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)

Hill Climbers (Psa. 24:3) (Part 1)

 Who May Ascend Into The Hill of The Lord?

THOSE WHO ARE DISCONTENT TO REMAIN ON A PLATEAU MAY ASCEND INTO THE HILL OF THE LORD.

 Believers in Jesus discover early that the path they are called to travel has an incline. While this upward climb contains many pleasantries and offers many benefits, it is not always comfortable nor convenient. Developing as a believer is similar to a stairmaster, not a moving sidewalk.

“I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining ev'ry day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
'Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.'”¹

It is easy to settle into religion. Religion says that you are alright so long as you play by the rules and don't buck the system. Religion is a plateau.

• Attend church on Sunday and be sure to bring your Bible.
• Put something in the offering.
• Stand when asked to stand, sit when asked to sit.
• Say nice things to people before and after service.

It is easy to settle into God's promises. Promises are memorized and spewed as if the point of it all is to remain blessed and comfortable, possessing many toys when you die. Promises can be a plateau.

Thank You, Jesus, for all of Your blessings! Amen?  Having experienced so many blessings, is it possible to coast along? Just because blessings are pursuing you doesn't mean you are pursuing Jesus.

A plateau is a level place best suited for temporary rest. As believers in Jesus, there are times in life where we need to rest, right?  How is it that leveling off can become a homestead instead of a pit stop? If you're not willing to leave the plateau, you will not grow very much in Jesus.

1Oatman, Johann. “Higher Ground.” Hymns of Glorious Praise. Sprinigfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1969. Hymn #321.