As the early Americans started moving West, they encountered some serious issues. New lands they had to understand, new challenges, new animals. The biggest challenge they had to transportation, however, were the mountains. To get their wagons across they had to add days, if not weeks, to their travels by going around. As the invention of the locomotive came into being and the concept of using it to go coast to coast became popular, man would try to go through the mountains. Tunnels were made that in some cases were miles long. Suddenly it was easier to get through to the West because they could go straight through the mountains.
Figuring out how to handle the mountains in life is always a challenge. Whether it’s a physical mountain, a spiritual mountain or some other personal mountain, it must be conquered. And the best news is that it can be!
Matthew 17:20 (ESV)
{20} He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
I was recently reminded of this verse and it has not left my mind since. The idea of telling a mountain to move and it doing so is almost unfathomable, but our Lord is making a point here. Many times we are told of the benefits of asking Him and turning to Him when life throws trials our direction.
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
{13} I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Matthew 7:7 (ESV)
{7} “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 21:22 (ESV)
{22} And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
James 1:5-8 (ESV)
{5} If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. {6} But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. {7} For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; {8} he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
All people encounter mountains in their lives. All people must decide to avoid them or conquer them. The Christian needs to look at these mountains and, with confidence in Christ, tell them to move. Faith is a powerful part of the Christian’s life. Without it, we are lost. With it, we gain eternal life. By it the “people of old” found favor in God’s eyes (Hebrews 11:2). It is faith that not only moves, but REMOVES the mountains of sin and doubt and uncertainty from our lives. It conquers the trials we face, and writes our names forever in the book of life.
What is your faith doing for you today? What are you doing with your faith?
James 2:17-26 (ESV)
{17} So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. {18} But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. {19} You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! {20} Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? {21} Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? {22} You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; {23} and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”— and he was called a friend of God. {24} You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. {25} And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? {26} For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Put your faith to work so that it, and you, will live eternally!
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