Two young men started out on a very difficult hike recently. It was a mountain-climbing hike that ended up on snow and ice at 10,000 ft. They packed extra clothes in case the weather changed suddenly, which often happens during mountain climbing. They threw in lots of food, a camera, and water bottles—in fact, piles of water bottles. They didn’t want to get thirsty while hiking, but they also thought that carrying the extra weight of the water bottles would be good training.
The day of the hike started out sunny, and the two friends were eager to get up on the mountain. They took down their tent, ate breakfast, and dressed for their adventure. A short drive took them to the trailhead where they strapped on their loaded packs and set off.
The first two miles were on well-worn trails, and the two hikers walked along at a good pace. They thought, This isn’t too bad. Soon the trail left the meadows and headed up across a glacier. Their speed slowed as they climbed across the snowfields. Passing the 8000-foot mark, they started noticing the lack of oxygen in the thinner air and stopped more often for rests and drinks of water.
As they climbed up the trail, they could see their destination way off in the distance. It was a cluster of rock huts forming the base camp for climbers who planned to go on to the top. But as they trudged along, the buildings didn’t seem to be getting any closer. They were SO tired that they each secretly thought of quitting.
Putting one foot in front of the other, they trudged on up the steep slope, encouraging one another as best they could. What a relief when they both straggled in to base camp a little later! The friends took off their backpacks and enjoyed the fantastic view. It was exhilarating to reach this high point, and they almost forgot all the effort it took to get there. They were glad they hadn’t turned to go back before reaching their goal.
Dropping down to rest, the two hikers drank water and ate some snacks before turning around to head back down. Although going down was easier than climbing up, those packs still felt heavy. In fact, the top-heavy loads toppled them over a few times as they slipped and slid down the steep mountain trail.
The young men got back to their car, tired and worn out. When they emptied their backpacks, they still had 30 of the 36 full water bottles they had carried with them. “Whose idea was this?” they teased each other. “No wonder we barely made it!” Their packs were pounds heavier than they needed to be. It was no laughing matter while they were struggling along, needing more oxygen and thinking of turning back. They could have stopped and poured out much of that water, but they stubbornly held onto it.
Was anything wrong with carrying water? No, of course not! Taking some water was very necessary. But the weight of their overloaded packs could have caused a serious fall, or they might have completely collapsed and needed to be rescued. We are thankful that wasn’t how it turned out for them.
Isn’t this a little picture of how it is with Christians traveling along God’s pathway in each of our lives? We need to go to school, we need to have a place to live, and we need food to eat and clothes to wear. Some of us may need a bike or car to get around. We work to earn money to buy what we need and to have money to save for emergencies. But loading ourselves down with lots of money, lots of possessions or too much of anything will just be a burden to us. It will distract us from our goal as we march toward our heavenly home.
The Bible compares the Christian pathway to a race—not a short sprint, but a long, cross-country run. Those who are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and have asked Him to wash away their sins will arrive at the finish line. Our Saviour will make sure of that. But we are told in our guidebook, the Bible, to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-21Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1‑2)).
What are you carrying in your backpack on your Christian pathway? Let us each take a good look at what we are carrying around with us and empty out the extras that are weighing us down on this earthly race, so that we may “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:1414I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)). We have the promise that “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:1919But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)).
But for any children or grown-ups who have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they have a greater need that should be settled right away! And that need is to have their sins washed away in the blood of Christ. If this need applies to you, we want to tell you that God loves you and sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for you. The blood He shed on the cross has the power to cleanse you from every sin in your life—past, present and future. He wants to lift that burden from you. He says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)).
ML-01/30/2011