Top Stories

The Climb

“Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain” (Exodus 19:3a)

  One of my favorite memories from our day camp over the years has been watching kids face the rock wall for the first time. Some run up with excitement, while others stand back with folded arms, staring upward, unsure if they can do it. They may want to climb, but the height feels intimidating. And yet, almost every time, something happens. They take a deep breath, clip into the harness, and start moving upward.

  Life with God can feel a lot like that. Faith is often a climb.

  In Exodus, Moses goes up Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord. It wasn’t just a physical journey—it was a spiritual one. Moses climbed because God was calling him higher. That moment became the beginning of a covenant relationship between God and these people. A covenant is more than a contract; it’s a relationship built on commitment. God reminded Israel that God had carried them out of Egypt. Before they climbed God had already moved toward them.

  That is still true for us. God’s grace always comes to find us first. But once we accept that grace, we are called to live differently. God told Israel they would be “holy”.  In other words, the climb changes you.

  Psalm 24 asks, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?” and answers: those with clean hands and a pure heart. That’s a challenge, because none of us are perfect. Yet through Jesus Christ, the climb becomes possible. When we worship, we enter God’s holy presence. Like putting on a helmet and harness before climbing, we prepare our hearts through confession, surrender, and honesty.

  Isaiah gives us a powerful vision of hope: a day when God’s Mountain will be established above all others, and all nations will stream to it. God’s presence is not meant for a select few—it is for all people. The church is called to be a place where anyone can come and find the Lord.

  In Matthew 17, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain where He is transfigured before them. They see His glory clearly. It is a mountaintop moment that strengthens them for what lies ahead. But they don’t stay there—they return to everyday life, changed.

  Maybe today you feel like you’re staring up at a wall that seems too high. Take heart. God is calling you upward—not to exhaust you, but to meet you. The climb may be difficult, but it’s where we find strength, perspective, and the presence of God.