Photo by Cat Bassano on Unsplash

Dear First Lutheran Family,

When I fly across the country, I try to get a window seat.  I’m fascinated to see the world from 35,000 feet.  I especially enjoy flying over a place I’ve been, like the Grand Canyon.  At ground level, the Grand Canyon is interesting.  But it’s hard to truly understand the scope of this amazing piece of God’s creation.  At 35,000 feet, on a clear day, you can see why it’s called “The Grand Canyon!”  It’s definitely “grand” in its scope! 

Moses got a high-level view of the Promised Land before he turned over his leadership to Joshua.  He went to the top of Mount Pisgah where God showed him the entire Promised Land.  What a view that must’ve been as God said, (Deuteronomy 34:4) “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’”  Moses was blessed to see the entire land, all at once, that God promised His people.  Then Moses died, unable to enter the Promised Land because of a transgression against God years earlier (Numbers 20:10-12).

As we get mired in the day-to-day existence of life, it can become difficult to see the bigger picture.  We’re so focused on what’s going on right in front of us … sometimes it’s the struggle of the day-to-day troubles that seem to have no end.  Sometimes, it’s the unbelievable joys we’re experiencing we wish would never end!  Peter had this kind of moment as he experienced another unbelievable view from a mountaintop. 

Peter witnessed first-hand the full glory of Jesus as well as the presence of Moses and Elijah.  Peter was so engrossed in the immediate moment, that he lost the big picture.  He didn’t want the moment to pass.  He wanted to stay on the mountain … with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  He said, (Luke 9:33) “Master, it is good that we are here.  Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and Elijah.”  Peter had forgotten the purpose Jesus had come to dwell in the world.  It wasn’t to live on top of a mountain bathed in glory.  He was the Christ, the Son of God, and He came to suffer and be killed and rise from the dead (Luke 9:20-22).  This wouldn’t be possible if Jesus remained on the mountaintop.  Jesus needed to go down the mountain, into the world, to fulfill the mission His Father had sent Him on.

We can be a little like Peter too.  It’s indeed good to spend time on the mountaintop in our worship of God with our friends.  It’s great to hear the stories, sing the hymns, and talk to God in prayer.  But God calls us to this mountaintop so we can receive His grace … the forgiveness of sins … hear His promises … eternal life in the new Promised Land … and be nourished to go into the world as the hands and feet of Christ.  We come down from our mountain to be the means God uses to bring His grace to others so that one day, we can join together dwelling with Moses and Elijah … Peter, James, and John … and Jesus … in the new Promised Land.

                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim