“See You at the Top” by Zig Ziglar is a very well-known book among successful people.
Being at the top most often refers to having success in whatever area of expertise. But to
get to the top requires a lot of climbing and hardships. Most people do not get to the top
because they stop when things get hard. However, it is at the top where the life changing
experience commences.
Abraham and Isaac journeyed to the top of a mountain for the Lord to reveal Himself as
“The Lord Will Provide.” Even to this day it is said, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be
provided.” (Genesis 22:14)
Moses and Paul went to Mount Sinai to meet with God. Moses received the Ten
Commandments and the laws of the Old Testament by remaining in God’s presence on the
top of the mountain. Paul received the revelations we have in the New Testament by his
encounter with Jesus in Mount Sinai for three years right after his conversion. This is not a
coincidental thing.
Elijah also went to Mount Sinai after his encounter with the prophets on Mount Carmel.
Even during the journey there, the angel had to minister to him and give him supernatural
food because the angel told him, “the journey is too great for you.” (I Kings 19:7) When he
got to the mountain, he didn’t find God in the huge wind, or in the earthquake, or in the fire,
even though the Scripture said these things happened as the Lord passed by. But Elijah
once again encountered God in the still small voice he was familiar with and in that Voice
he regained his bearings and his assignments.
Jesus often went to the mountains to pray, but it was the people who followed him up the
steep inclines that heard His Beatitudes of Matthew 5, and His wonderful parables. They
had to follow Him into the hard territories and even go for days without food to eat of the
miraculous five loaves and two fish, as well as the spiritual food Jesus gave them.
Jesus, Peter, James and John had to climb the high mountain to have an encounter with
Moses and Elijah. Jesus was so transfigured that his face shone like the sun and his
clothes glistened white with light. It was necessary for them to climb high enough to be
isolated from all others.
It was even on Mount Calvary, Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. That mountain where
His precious blood ran through the crevices of the earth to bring salvation to us all. And
even there, those who witnessed His death had to climb up the hill to be near Him. Then
they had to climb the Mount of Olives to witness His wonderful ascension forty days later.
Any one of these could have stopped and given up. Every one of these proved the journey is
hard; but every one of them would testify that the journey was worth the pain. We need to
learn to embrace the pain, because the pain is a promise of reward. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it’s
hard. Yes, it’s very tiring. But those who do not give up are the one who succeed.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not
lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)