Written by Bridge Church Elder Bill Erickson
Nelson Mandella once said, “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come.”
If there ever was a quote that described where I am in my life right now this is it. I have recently retired and am taking a year to study, grow, and see what God has next in store for us.
Here is a glimpse of the distance covered so far. Geographically, I live just nine miles up the river from where I grew up. Without computers, the Internet, cell phones (or any of the rest of the stuff that prevents our kids from going outside), we built go carts out of old lawn mowers, caught catfish from the river on the hottest of summer days. We played softball almost every afternoon and shot BB guns at bottle caps in our garage and occasionally took out a window!
In the sixties came high school, girls, and college… interrupted by Viet Nam. Childhood innocence evaporated. Life got real. Responsibilities grew.
Spiritually, I was beginning to own the faith of my forefathers as my own. I wanted my family to continue in the heritage of faith that I had been given. In time all of our children came to know Jesus as their Savior. Though I have failed Him time and time again, God has kept His hand on me. As I began to study the Bible, in earnest, I met Jesus. My life has never been the same. You can see Him all through this Book!
In Genesis He is Shiloh (49:10); Exodus He is the I AM; Numbers He is the Star and Scepter (24:17). In Deuteronomy He is the Rock (32:4). In 1 Samuel He is The Lord of Hosts (1:3). In Job, He is the Redeemer (19:25-27). In Psalms He is the Great Shepherd (23). In Proverbs He is The Beloved. In Isaiah He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (9:6) In Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace (3:25). In Micah, “…Whose going forth from of old is from everlasting to everlasting.” (5:2) In Zechariah He is The Branch (3:8). In Malachi He is the Messenger of the Covenant (3:1).
In Matthew He is Savior (1:21). In Mark He is the Son of Man (2:28); Luke – The Great Physician (5:12-15); John – The Word made flesh (1:1); Acts – The One who will mobilize us to witness (1:8); Philippians – “…God has exalted Him so that at His name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!” (2:9-11); 1 Thessalonians – One who will descend from heaven with a shout. (4:16); Jude – “…He keeps us from stumbling…” (24); Revelation – He is high and lifted up, the Alpha and the Omega (1:8).
My life verse comes from Joshua 17:18:
But, the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.
Dr. Craig Barnes once said, “Conversion always occurs enroute to places we do not wish to go. We can get there only if we have abandoned hope of returning to the place where we would rather be.”
I didn’t ask for the hill country – it was a place I wasn’t thinking about going. I didn’t want to clear forests…battle Canaanites, or their chariots of iron! But, I chose to follow my Lord and let Him write the story. And so, here I sit taking some time to look back over the hills that I’ve crossed to see how far I’ve come.
Perhaps you find yourself living in the hill country today and you wonder, “Why, God?” “Why did you give this to me?” “Why did we have to go over this hill?” You know, we’re not the author of our own story. But, let me tell you what I’ve discovered after 40 plus years of hiking the hill country. If you keep searching for the God you want, you’ll miss getting to know the God who is there.
Here’s a classic old hymn to encourage you to walk today where Jesus walked…
I walked today where Jesus walked,
In days of long ago.
I wandered down each path He knew,
With reverent step and slow.
Those little lanes, they have not changed,
A sweet peace fills the air.
I walked today where Jesus walked,
And felt His presence there.
My pathway led through Bethlehem,
And memories ever sweet.
The little hills of Galilee,
That knew His childish feet.
The Mount of Olives, hallowed scenes,
That Jesus knew before
I saw the mighty Jordan roll,
As in the days of yore.
I knelt today where Jesus knelt,
Where all alone he prayed.
The Garden of Gethsemane,
My heart felt unafraid.
I picked my heavy burden up,
And with Him at my side,
I climbed the Hill of Calvary,
I climbed the Hill of Calvary,
I climbed the Hill of Calvary,
Where on the Cross He died!
I walked today where Jesus walked,
And felt Him close to me.
Bill Erickson
