What joy for those whose
strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds
on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Psalm 84:5
We know what the first part of the Psalm means: Whenever we feel powerless, there can still be joy because God our Strength is powerful.
(Do you have that confidence?)
But what does the second part of this verse mean ... especially if you don't have a trip booked to the Holy Land?
In Ancient Israel it was a custom -- a goal -- to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at time or two a year (and particularly for the highest Holy Days).
Jerusalem, you many know, was in a mountainous region. Therefore, almost every pilgrim was marching uphill to go to Jerusalem. You were ascending -- figuratively and somewhat literally -- into the presence of God. (In fact, there's a whole group of Psalms -- 120-134 -- called the Psalms of Ascent. They were traditionally read as God's people journeyed upward to the city and to be closer to God.)
So ... if you're not going to a literal Jerusalem, in what ways are you nevertheless journeying uphill toward God?
The valleys of life naturally casts shadows upon us. It's too easy to stay on the plateaus of mediocrity and boredom. The question is: Are you willing to take the climbing path? To seek God?
Like a literal pilgrim, it will take sacrifice. You must leave the comfortable. You must be intentional. It will require work. But God's fullest presence was on top of the mountain -- literally. And without that effort, you would keep missing the greatest blessing in life.
In Christ's Love,
a guy who is a mountain climber
(I continually sacrifice to seek God in the up)
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