Part Two of The Way Up Is Down Series

 
THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

(Note: Last time we talked about how everyone is “here” and wants to get “there.” We illustrated this with the image of a mountain. The “here” where you are right now, that part of your life that you would like to see change or improve, is located at the base of the mountain. The “there,” the place where you want to be is located at the top of the mountain. So how do you get from here to there? How do you get to the top of the mountain?)

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First we need to identify the top of the mountain. What is this place we are all looking for?

1) Some people believe financial security is the top of the mountain. They think: “If I just had enough money so I didn’t have any more financial problems or worries — that would be the top of the mountain for me.” But we know financial security isn’t the top of the mountain, because there are too many rich people who are miserable. There are too many wealthy people who are still trying to get from here to there. Money can’t buy you love, and money doesn’t make you happy. Financial security is not the top of the mountain.

2) Some people think success in their chosen field is the top of the mountain. They tell themselves: “If I could just get that promotion, or strike that business deal, or win that award — that would be the top of the mountain for me.” But the people who’ve been there, the ones who have already climbed to the top of the ladder, will be the first to tell you it always leaves you wanting more.

Tom Brady was quarterback for the New England Patriots and a multiple Super Bowl winner. He said this in a 2007 interview:

“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. I think, ‘… it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be … I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.” (https://tonyreinke.com/2008/01/10/tom-brady-super-bowl-rings-and-ecclesiastes/)

Brady would go on to win even more Super Bowl rings, but even at what seemed like the very pinnacle of his career, he testified that success is not the top of the mountain.

3) Others think finding the perfect relationship is the top of the mountain. That’s getting closer, but the truth is there are no perfect relationships in this world because there are no perfect people in this world. If you are looking for a human relationship to give you ultimate meaning and purpose in life, you will find yourself disappointed every time.

So what is the top of the mountain? I’m going to tell you what the top of the mountain is and how to get there, but before we do that, I want us to look at some of the ways the world says we get up the mountain.

Next: The World’s Ways Up