I first read this poem about twenty-five years ago. Since
then the content of these words have become more and more real to me. I find in
it the call to separation, intimacy with Christ, commitment, and the resultant
misunderstanding that often occurs, when one chooses the “less traveled road.”
I also find in it the same “heartbeat” one encounters in reading the mystics
like Fenelon and St. John of the Cross, or A.W. Tozer, or John Wright Follette.
The far horizons and the stars,
May never know a sheltered place
Nor grow symmetrical in grace.
Such trees must battle doggedly
the blasts, and bear the scars.
-Loyal Marion Thompson
This poem expresses in the imagery of a mountain tree, the price and the reward for our persevering in the ascent up into the realm identification with our Lord. The Lord is seeking those who are willing “to come apart” and "ascend” the mountain of vision to be alone, with Him. Psalm 4:3 says, “But know that the Lord has set apart him that is godly for Himself.”
There is much that yet remains hidden, which the Lord desires to reveal to those who intimately desire Him, and are willing to come apart to spend quality time with Him, alone. The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers that, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephes.1:18).
Our coming into this realm of “spiritual vision” requires our being “separated” from all that is seemingly good, in order to be brought to the best. Therefore, many weights (acceptable things not born of the spirit) must be laid aside (Heb. 12:1), that we might climb unhindered into this “set apart place” of union with Him, in the outworking of His purposes and our destiny (the mysteries of the kingdom). For those responding to this call into the higher realm of spiritual vision and insight, there is a priceless reward. It is out of this recognition that Paul declared, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).
Few are willing to ascend the “mountain” with Him and then abide there, for “vision always has a price.” John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). In other words, “The way up is down.” This paradox applies to those who would make the ascent up the mountain. Abraham was called alone, out from his kindred and country, into a land he knew not. There, he became the friend of God and the progenitor of a set-apart nation. Joseph was sold alone, into a strange country where he suffered alone, in a dark prison. There, in a time of dire need, he became the head of a nation, and saved his people. Moses fled into the wilderness alone, where he met the Lord at a burning bush. From there, he led Israel from bondage, into their land of promise. And Jesus went up into a mountain alone, to pray, and to call unto Himself those whom the Father had given Him.
Today, many of us are resting in the safety of the sheltered place, satisfied with the surrounding protection it provides. These appear as being beautiful to the eye and “symmetrical in grace.” But something is missing; they are not in “the mount of vision.” May we by God’s grace be one of those who cannot remain satisfied in the place of sheltered comfort, and passive acceptability. May we be of the ranks of those who are “intensely hungry for more.” May we never again be willing to rest in the safety and security of past experiences or visitations, but be continually pressing onward up the mountain of the Lord into a realm of “higher vision” and understanding of God’s ways.
Each pioneer paid a price for the vision they received. Few of them were understood or accepted in their lifetime. The price of “truth and vision” is always costly, may we join with these saints of old, and begin our ascent upward toward this realm of clear vision.
No comments:
Post a Comment