A Climber's Goal

The thing about climbing is that it involves a lot of upward battles, not looking down, stumbling from time to time, sometimes even falling, but you keep going anyway, knowing that the top isn't much farther away. There's struggle and perseverance; anguish and hope. One thing the climber has to remember is to always keep his eyes on the finish. I love to go rock climbing, but when I first started out, I remember how terrified I was. The first time I climbed, we were on a family vacation and I had been so psyched to rock climb because I knew I loved climbing trees, so how hard could it be, right? Truth is, I got about halfway up, looked down, and froze up. I was so scared I couldn't even move. I clung to the wall and shut my eyes tight. 

The instructor on top of the wall tried to encourage me to keep going. "You're almost there." He told me. But it didn't do me any good. It wasn't until I heard my dad's voice that I finally opened my eyes. "It's going to be okay." He said. "I know you can do this. Just keep going." At his reassurance, I took a deep breath and looked upward again. "Lean out from the wall." He instructed. Slowly, I leaned out and realized that I could move more easily like that. I reached up to grab a hold of the next rock, and the next, and the next, until finally I reached the top. I had done it. Not to mention, I've continued to rock climb, and enjoy it, ever since.

That's what being a Christian is like.  The upward battles are fighting against my old nature, and seeking to do God's will instead of my own. The not looking down, would be not living in the past and not looking back at the mistakes I've made, my shortcomings, and my faults. I stumble, trying to do the right thing, but not always succeeding. And falling would be me falling away from the Lord, for not putting my trust in Him, and trying to do things in my own strength. I can't help but think of the line from one of Tenth Avenue North's new songs. It goes, "Hallelujah, we are free to struggle. We're not struggling to be free." It's through my struggles and my trials, that I learn to be more like Jesus. 

It's in the hard times that I go through, that I am able to shine brightest for my Savior. People are watching. They want to see how I react to certain situations and how I handle certain things. I know I'm far from perfect and sometimes I feel like giving up. It's times like these that I freeze up and "cling to the wall." And it is my Heavenly Father's voice that encourages me, and enables me to keep climbing. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). I want others to see Christ in my life. I want them to know how much He means to me, and all that He has done for me. I would be lost without Him. Therefore I press on, to fight the good fight! "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2) Just like the top of the mountain is a climber's goal, so is Jesus Christ my goal. To see Him in Heaven one day, and to hear Him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant." That means more to me than anything. I just hope I can be the light and the witness He knows I can be.