Daily Devotions
The Upward Call of God
Reading for October 26th: Luke 6-7
Weekly reading for October 25-31: 2 Peter & Jude
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence...
2 Peter 1:3
Mount Everest is one of the most difficult climbs in the world. The peak is over 29,000 feet above sea level. At that altitude the air pressure is about a third of what it is at sea level, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the air for climbers. It extends into the upper troposphere and penetrates the stratosphere, which exposes it to the fast and freezing wind of the jet stream. In February 2004 a wind speed of 175 mph was recorded at the summit and winds of over 100 mph are common. These winds can blow climbers off the mountain, and so most aim for the 7 to 10 day window in the spring and fall when the Asian monsoon season is either starting or ending. On top of all of these obstacles, there is a constant threat of avalanches and the Khumbu Icefall.
God has called us to a much higher summit than that of Mount Everest. He has called us to his own glory and excellence, and the view from this summit is breathtaking to behold! We were once lost in the darkness of our own sin, and God has called us out of this into his marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). He has "shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor 4:6) We have been challenged to ascend the steep slope of this glorious mountain to the prize that awaits for us on top (Phil 3:14).
This is rarefied air. No mortal can withstand the elements at this summit. It is harsh and uninviting, not because we don't have the capacity to breathe (spiritually) at this altitude but because of the way we have degraded our ability to do so by our own sin and rebellion. However, by the "great and precious promises" given to us by God, we can become partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4). We have been provided with "all things that pertain to life and godliness" at this high altitude (2 Pet 1:3). By God's marvelous grace, we can escape the corruption of the world and ascend the glorious summit of our God and Savior Jesus Christ!
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
