By: Craig Rippy


 

Up or Down? I like to be emotionally up. Down is just a downer. I like to look at things from up above. Viewing from below usually doesn't grant much of a vantage point. Going up the cooperate ladder has more benefits than going down the cooperate ladder. Going up to heaven is depicted as much better than going down to hades. Up is better.

Yet, up means to climb. Climbing means effort. To go up means I must be in better shape, more skillful, and have a desire to overcome the weariness of the continued climb.

Even with the Christian life we are to continue to climb. Up is better. To accept Jesus as Savior is great. Yet, up is better. Jesus is Savior, but He is also the Way, the Truth, and the Life we find in John 14:6. He is the Way. Thus, we should follow Him to get to where He is leading.

Remember, Jesus went up. He went up the mountainside to preach. Matthew 5:1-2, Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them (NIV). If we are going to be successful we must be willing to go up. Go up to mom and dad to tell them the message of Jesus. Go up town to meet with a friend and tell him/her about Jesus. Go up to Bible College to prepare for ministry. Go up to the Youth Director and say you'll go to CIY. First, God may be asking you to Go up the aisle after the Sunday sermon and be baptized into His Son.

Jesus also went up the mountain to pray. Mark 6:46, After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray (NIV). He would also go up to the Temple to worship and teach. John 7:14, Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach (NIV). Here we recognize the importance of spiritual disciplines. We are to go up to God in prayer continually. A person who has immersed themselves in prayer is a person who has submitted to God to go as He directs.

To go up to worship is a natural act of a true Christian. I hope you go up to the Church Building with prayerful attitude to worship. Prayer before your arrival can prepare you to offer yourself to God in worship and service. Remember, your service is worship. Romans 12:1, Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship (NIV).

Going up to worship is going to service. As God's redeemed we are God's servants. Not volunteers, but servants. When you go up to worship you are first going for God. Second, you are going to be used of God in service. This is called Fellowship. Jesus went to the temple because He was The TEACHER. He went to serve God and others.

Lastly, as Jesus went up Calvary, we are to take up our cross and follow Him. Mark 8:34-35, Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (NIV). Jesus is the Way to the Father and eternal life. We are to follow Him up the narrow path to enter the small gate leading up to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

Taking up your cross means you are putting down control of your own life and handing the reins up to Jesus Christ. Going up the spiritual path is traveling up our own Calvary with the responsibility of our cross, our ministry.

Just as the crucifixion wasn't pleasant, our ministry may not be comfortable at times, but we are called to carry the cross. We are called to achieve God's purposes. It takes effort and sometimes pain. The progress can be slow and tiresome. There may be little in the way of earthly gratitude shown to us. Yet, Jesus carried His cross, prayed up, tested by worshipful service, and willing to be misunderstood and not thanked by his peers.

Are you willing to climb up the mountain of God's will and allow Him to accomplish His purposes through you? Even if the present effort is difficult, the final reward is great. Jesus made sure that the final reward would be worth going up to get. After climbing up Calvary He did go down to the grave, but God lifted Him up to give all those who follow Him eternal life. Are you UP to the challenge?

If you have not voted for your favorite Hymn or Praise Chorus, please do so as soon as possible. The ballots are on the table in the foyer. The Top 10 x 2 will be on Resurrection Sunday Evening so get your votes in!