When God created human beings He instilled in them a tremendous potential for overcoming adversity and conquering challenges.
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He probably intended this ability to be used to overcome the powerful lure and temptation of sin, but man has often preferred to use it to accomplish mind-boggling physical achievements.
For example, from the first time humans laid eyes upon the towering and beautiful Mount Everest, rising from the border between Nepal and China, they have longed to climb it. No matter that there is nothing at the top but frigid, snowy wilderness, adventurous explorers felt compelled to take on the challenge.
According to brittanica.com, Everest is 29,032 feet high, the tallest mountain on Earth. That’s just under five-and-a-half miles straight up. The summit is too cold to support any kind of plant or animal life. The warmest temperatures are in July, averaging two degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). In January, the average temperature is 33 degrees below zero.
Thousands have attempted the climb despite threats of avalanche, icefall and severe air sickness. More than 280 have lost their lives in the attempt. However, the website “High Adventure Expeditions” reports that 7,563 climbers have successfully reached the peak and returned safely, some of them more than once. An incredible achievement of human will and determination.
But surely not without God.
How much more incredible is His masterful creation of the mountains and the landscape in the first place, and His empowerment to mere men to master their ambitions?
‘Lesson for all of us’
There is a critical lesson for all of us here, even if the highest thing we ever have to climb is our porch steps: We all have our mountains to scale, our challenges to overcome, our adversity to face. Fortunately, we can and must, call upon God’s help. In Philippians Paul famously writes, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:13).
If we can truly believe that, if we can cling to our faith as securely as the mountain climber clings to his cliffs and ledges, there is no evil we can’t overcome, no setback we can’t restore.
So when the uphill battles of life get you down, remember those mountain climbers.
And keep in mind that, when your climb is finished, Jesus Himself awaits you at the summit!
EDITOR’S NOTE — Ken Lass is a retired Birmingham television news and sports anchor and an award-winning columnist for numerous publications and websites.
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