Hello ,

 

 

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to ascend the 29,035-foot peak of Mount Everest. They were not the last. In the 1990s, Nepal lifted its once tight restrictions on climbing the legendary mountain in order to boost tourist dollars. As of 2006, more than 2,700 people have reached the summit of the world's tallest mountain, many paying over $60,000 for the experience.

 

One result of this commercial influx has been the erosion of the traditional moral code of mountaineering. In the rush to the top, amateurs who have paid a fortune for the bragging rights will do anything it takes to get to the summit, including abandoning other climbers.

 

David Sharp became a casualty of this modern mentality in March of 2006. The 34-year-old engineer from Cleveland did manage to reach the summit on his own. However, he ran out of oxygen on the way back down-984 feet from the top. As he lay dying, 40 climbers passed him by, too eager to achieve their own goals to take a chance on using up their oxygen on someone else. As a result, David Sharp froze to death.

 

According to Ed Viestrus, who has scaled all 14 of the world's 8,000 meter peaks, Sharp's death is not unique. "Passing people who are dying is not uncommon. Unfortunately, there are those who say: 'It's not my problem. I've spent all this money, and I'm going to the summit.'" 

 

This attitude has produced disgust in many climbers, including Sir Edmund Hillary. "On my expedition," he said, "there was no way you'd have left a man under a rock to die."

 

Is it possible that the same thing can happen in the spiritual realm?  Do many people who claim Christianity want to have eternal life for themselves so much, that they pass other people by in their quest to reach the promised land? Not only is it possible, but I've witnessed it on many occasions.  Well-meaning people get so caught up in making sure that THEY are on the right track, that they pass right by those unfortunate ones that could really use some spiritual help. 

 

Reaching the "promised land" isn't about checking off a list of "do's and don'ts" in the spiritual realm.  Check out this verse of scripture that explains it more potently than I ever could:

 

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.   Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" Matthew 25:34-40

 

Potent words?  

 

Let me challenge you to open your Bible today and read the verses directly after that. A refresher course in Christ's words always gets me thinking. 

 

Jesus gets very pointed about people who somehow think that they can pass others by on the way to the Kingdom, and every time I read it I am reminded of just how precious people are to God.  If they're precious to Him, they ought to be precious to me.

 

Have a great day and God bless!

 

 

 

Pastor Mike / The Open Word