I am fascinated with mountains. They are the result of the creative mind of God. AS the Bible states in Amos 4:13, "For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth—The LORD God of hosts is His name." The Bible at times uses mountains as key reference points. One major example is Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Another example is Mount Zion, where the Temple was located in Jerusalem. My friend, Jarrett Stephens, teaching pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX, has actually written a book entitled, The Mountains Are Calling, in which he presents ten lessons gleaned from scenes in the Bible involving mountains.
Our verse today from Mark 11:23 is an eye-opening, stop-in-your-tracks type of verse; it causes us to pause and seek to understand what Jesus is teaching us here as He uses the analogy of a mountain being thrown into the sea. I think the primary point being made by Jesus is the power of faith, of believing in God and not doubting. Our trials and temptations often appear to be mighty, unmovable mountains. We may feel totally helpless and consigned to live a life of desperation and defeat. But Jesus tells us to believe. The impossible can happen when we believe. The impossible will continue to reign supreme as long as we clothe ourselves in a robe of doubt.
When Jesus is the object of your faith, you will be secure and never be disappointed. A group of botanists were in the Alps searching for a rare species of flowers when they spotted one at the bottom of a deep ravine. The scientists noticed a small boy standing nearby, and they asked if they could tie a rope around his waist and lower him into the ravine so he could extract the flower. The little boy looked down into the deep canyon and told the scientists to wait a minute and he would be back. The boy returned with a man and told the botanists, "I'll go over the cliff now and get the flower for you, but this man must hold on to the rope. He's my dad!"
Are there any mountains in your path that you need God to remove and throw into the sea? Ask Him, trust Him, and let His will be done. God loves you and will respond to you in the best way possible. Why? Because God is for you, and He loves you and is pleased when you trust in Him.
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