A Mountaintop Moment, Written by Matt May

“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”

Revelation 21:5

How often do we read or hear these words and think that they only apply to the Earth around us? Or that since they are in Revelation that they speak of a day in the future?

How often do we skip over the fact that God is working, right now, as you read this, to remake you as part of His good creation, which he loves? If you are like me, this truth is elusive. It is only in rare moments that the fog over my heart clears so I can see that Jesus’ sacrifice frees me to become a new creation, restored as an image-bearer of the God of the universe. 

I was recently reminded of this on a trip to Colorado. As part of The Crossing’s Camp Rockies (The Crossing is our church in Columbia, MO), I got to spend nearly a week with some truly remarkable people and do a bunch of fun things. One such activity was a hike up Cottonwood Pass. 

The hike itself is fairly tame, about a mile long, with be biggest challenge coming from the altitude, as the parking lot sits at over 12,000 feet above sea level, and it is only up from there. At the end of the trail is one of the most majestic views I’ve ever seen, and it shocks me to my core each time I see it. You see, Cottonwood Pass is a favorite hike for these trips, and having grown up going on them, I’ve been on this hike at least 4 times. Each time has been transformative and the closest I’ve felt to God in my life. If there is a physical location that defines my relationship with God, it is that mountaintop. 

Yet as I reached the mountaintop this time, something was different. When I got to the top I was immediately hit with God’s restorative power and the path that I had walked between now and the last time I was up there. From barely having the strength to stand two years ago, to making it back up as a leader of young men - God had been faithful.

I hugged my mentor, Jeff, and let myself weep. In that moment, I realized that God had not just remade me physically, but also spiritually. I had, through my illness and recovery, learned the undeniable truth that His strength is made perfect in my weakness, that in His love, God uses those weaknesses for His glory, and that all of them are gifts from Him. 

The words from Jon Bellion’s song called Maybe IDK, ran through my head, “Although I guess if I knew tomorrow, I guess I wouldn't need faith. I guess if I never fell, I guess I wouldn't need grace. I guess if I knew His plans, I guess He wouldn't be God. So maybe I don't know… But maybe that’s okay.” I was able to remind myself and the guys around me that the plan we have for their lives rarely works out, but only because God has a far better plan in mind for us. A plan to remake us, to show us that we are loved, to teach us that when we feel worthless and shame closes our hearts, that God wants us not in spite of our shortcomings but because of them. 

He is making all things new.