Mountain Maker
Psalms 30:6-9 (ASV) As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved. 7 Thou, Jehovah, of thy favor hadst made my mountain to stand strong: Thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled. 8 I cried to thee, O Jehovah; And unto Jehovah I made supplication: 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
There is only one strength that is immoveable through all the quakes and shakes of life, and it has nothing to do with muscle mass or bank account volume. This is a strength formed by exercise, but not by the exercise of body movements or investment principles. This strength is only maintained in the exercise of praise, the expression of a heart humbled and overwhelmingly impressed, not by the magnitude of the mountain, but by the One who made the mountain.
Hunter and I have been watching the NBA finals lately, and actually went up to the Buffalo Wings place last night to watch a couple of them at the same time. There is such a great demonstration of incredible physical ability in all of the teams that have made it so far. Massive giants are clearly shown in close range as the cameras make their size and superbly developed bodies fill the screen. Tattoo bodies with bulging muscles display athleticism that is nothing less than amazing.
As great as the physical demonstration going on in these highly competitive games, there is another force being shown throughout all of them. While the mountain-like bodies of the participants may appear unstoppable and unshakable, the display of wealth also rises up to claim dominance, both in the players, but also in those who are just using the physical talents for their own mountain-of-wealth building. Stadiums are filled with roaring fans that have paid exorbitant ticket prices, while every visual moment includes exposure to advertising, the cost of which is lining the pockets of owners and promoters. For them it would appear that their strength will just continue unabated as the aging of one group of athletes just makes way for the next aspiring group drawn by the allure of glory and wealth.
As impressive as these mountains of talent and wealth are, there is a truth that seems to be tragically illusive for many of them- that any amassing of size and influence is actually made possible by yet another force. For each of these earthly mountains there is an impending shaking that will upend and topple it, but for the Designer of it all, their passing will have no effect whatsoever. His glory will just remain and progress in its expansion as creation continues to proclaim His praise without interruption. The greatest moment in fulfilling a gift potential is not in claiming its glory for the mountain that it is, but in praising the One who made it and provided the ability to prosper with it. Mountains are so impressive in their beauty and apparent permanence, but to ascend and become them is quite the precarious undertaking. If dependence is placed upon them alone, their crumbling will be their end. If, on the other hand, their every moment of existence is given to the praise of their Maker, this glory will know no end, as it will remain unshaken in Him. Better to glory in the Mountain Maker than in the mountain He has made.
Romans 11:36 (KJV) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.