Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct 1/56

Contributor - H. A. Harmelink

Title - A Mountain Top Experience

Topic -

"LORD, IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE; AND . . . THEY SAW NO MAN SAVE JESUS ONLY." MATT. 17:4b, 8

Jesus had taken three of His disciples apart with Him to a high mountain. 'Mere on the mount Jesus was transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah appeared as the representatives Of the Law and Prophets. They spoke with Jesus about His decease at Jerusalem. Luke 9:31.

This was a great experience for the disciples, although what happened caused them to fear shortly. Peter said, "It is good for us to be here". He knew not what to say. Peter was apt to make rash statements. It was, however, good for them to be there, but in another way than he thought at the moment. Peter, said later, "We were eye witnesses of His majesty for He received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory 'This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased' and the voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount" 2 Pet. 1:16-18.

Peter said, "Let us make three tabernacles - one for Thee, and one for Moses and one for Elijah. He was giving the Old Testament saints too much prominence by placing them on the same level with Jesus. God the Father showed His disapproval of the equalization and said, "This is My Son in Whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him." When the voice had ceased to speak, and the disciples had arisen from the ground, "they saw no man save Jesus only."

This was a Mountain Top experience literally and figuratively for the disciples. It made an impression upon them for later years. We may, as Christians have Mountain Top experiences. The world does not have them nor know them; they have only "Death Valley" experiences, unless they repent.

What constitutes a Mountain Top experience? We may note two things here. To be at the time above the level of the earthly things which draw us down. In the Mountain Top experience we are above the level of the things of earth. We must exclude them. Then to see Jesus only with the eye of faith, which is to behold Him (for the first time or anew) as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, and also my sin, and to believe that His decease at Jerusalem has occurred in order that we might be set free from the awful disease of sin; and further that we may accept that instead of making a tabernacle for Him, He is preparing a mansion for us in the Father's house.

Too often we are so wrapped up in the things of earth, that our vision is blurred and we cannot see Jesus only. Too often we miss the Mountain Top experience because we do not go to the Mountain.. To have a Mountain Top experience, you must go to the Mountain Top of prayer, and have fellowship with Jesus; you need to read His Word and meditate upon it in order that you may be above the level of daily life. In this life in which there are disappointments, reverses, sicknesses, and sorrows, if you see back of them or above them Jesus only, you can still have a Mountain Top experience. Do you have those times when you are in the mount of fellowship with Jesus only and are lifted for those moments above the things of this world? They are foretastes of heaven.

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