OK, I'm not the most fit person in the world. No big surprise there, right? But a few years ago on an Alaskan cruise, our family decided to do one of those big rock walls that the ship offered to its guests. My first problem with that scenario is knowing what I looked like from behind in that harness. Alas, we were the only ones in line with no onlookers, so I decided to get strapped in and try it out. As quickly as I started my climb, people started to gather. Panic also started to overcome me. Now please understand, I wasn't afraid of the heights or even fatigued at the point I quit. It was simply the knowledge of all those people staring up at my lower extremities and watching my every move. It was one of those times I would have given my left hand to erase mental images. In the end, I decided the fear of what they were thinking was more important to me than the thrill of reaching the top. Now, I'm not sure I could have reached the top, but my paranoia definitely took control, leaving me to always wonder.
In many respects, indoor rock climbing like what I've described is like our Christian walk. Sometimes scaling the spiritual mountain isn't easy. In fact, if we're doing things the way God says, it shouldn't be. (All those who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12) Onlookers are always watching us to see if we mess up and fail. Success in rock climbing is found in the footing, and some of us, namely me, can be a bit clumsy at times and have very big feet. Size ten to be exact. But truly the size of your foot doesn't matter. All it takes is to have the tip of your toe on the ledge to start making progress. Just like I was strapped into a safety harness on the cruise, because I've had a point in my life where I've given God control, asked Him to come into my life, forgive me of my sins and save me, I also have a spiritual harness. If I slip in this rock wall of life, He's got my back.
The thing is, that those tiny ledges we use to continue our upward climb can also be used by satan. This morning I was reading in Ephesians 4:27. It says, "and do not give the devil a foothold." As I was reading that passage, I just stopped and started to contemplate the big picture, especially in relation to rock climbing. You see, just like I mentioned in yesterday's blog, satan is out there on the attack. He's climbing that wall with us, trying to make us give up. He's got a foot on the ledge just like us, but the cool thing is that he's not wearing a safety harness.
As Christians, we have to be so aware of satan's attacks in our life. He is subtle, and he is sneaky. When we're not even looking, he'll reach out and grab our leg to try to pull us down. Just like me in our family vacation, he can use fear to play on our emotions. He is out there throwing self doubt our way, telling us we're not good enough, making us wonder if reaching the summit is even worth it. He can use anger, bitterness, the internet, our children, and yes, even our Christian friends and family to pull us down from the mountain, too. It could be little things like our favorite television show. It's just a show, right? Entertainment - what's the big deal? Yep. Satan just inched his way up another notch in trying to make us slip. What's a little cuss word when we're mad or something goes wrong? Isn't that just a little ridiculous to think cussing here and there is wrong? Not according to I Peter 1:13-16 "...prepare your minds for action; be self controlled...do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance, but just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, 'Be holy because I am holy.'"
Maybe you've started the climb. You've not actually given up, but you're too defeated to keep scaling. Maybe you've lost your energy to keep going up. You've not given up on God, you still believe, but you just don't know how to start climbing again. Let me tell you about a great tool developed by Maxpoint. It's a systematic approach to growing your faith in Christ, and it will help jump start your energy to keep climbing. You can find it at www.24-7Discipleship.com. It's free for individuals, and I guarantee it will help you get focused and ready to start scaling the wall again.
The really cool thing about this rock climbing is that safety harness I mentioned. You see, on my cruise, I could make a split decision and give up. But the Bible says that if we've entered this Christian rock climb, giving up is not an option. John 10:28 says "No one will snatch us out of God's hand." His harness is made with super glue. We may let satan low down our growth progress, we may stop making upward progress, but once we've made a commitment to enter a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it's a done deal. Signed, sealed...and ultimately delivered.
If you see a friend struggling, reach down and give them a hand. Encourage them to keep going. If you see a friend slip and fall, don't just leave them lower down the wall to fend for themselves. Let's build up our Spiritual strength and climb this wall...one ledge at a time...together!
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com