King of the Mountain
By Clark Schultz
When I was seven or eight years old, we had a big old dirt pile in our back yard. We had some pretty mean king-of-the-mountain games back there.
Brother battles
When my buddies and I played, it was an even match. But when my 16-year-old brother conquered the hill with his 16-year-old body, things weren't so even. Our bodies flew into the air and we were bounced on our heads. Non-stop we'd run up the hill and non-stop we'd be hurled into the distance.
I don't know why but one day my brother felt sorry for me (or he knew I'd tattle to Mom). When I went charging up the hill, inside of firing me into space, he said, "Get behind me." As all my friends came charging up, he protected me. He wouldn't let anyone or anything get at me. I was safe behind my brother.
Life battles
In our life we have challenges and struggles-maybe dating, maybe finances, maybe getting along with our parents, maybe even the fear of death. As we face these struggles, it's almost as if we're trying to climb a mountain. And when we do, we fail miserably. On our own, spiritually speaking, we can't even tie our shoes let alone take on these fears and doubts.
The Brother who battles for us
But that is where God's love shows itself. God knows our every weakness. What is more, he knows what we need before we even need it. He sent his Son, to conquer sin, death, the devil, and our fears. Jesus is the king of the mountain.
He went to the mountain of Calvary to be our Savior. Now when these struggles come, he says, "Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest."
That rest counts not only here, but also in the life to come, after we climb that last mountain in death.
Peace in our Brother's battle
My big brother was killed over seven years ago in a snowmobile accident. I was deeply saddened and hurt because that brother who protected me on that hill, was now gone.
I'm sure you have or will experience similar losses in your lives. But we can rest easy because Christ climbed that mountain of Calvary so we don't have to climb it on our own. He crushed our enemies and sent them hurling off into the distance so we don't have to fear death.
We know that death is not the end. We take comfort in Christ's words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26). We don't say goodbye to loved ones who have died in Jesus. We say, "I will see you later in heaven."
That, my friend, comes from a loving God - the real king of the mountain.