Mountains

In Chiang Mai, we were surrounded by dozens of mountains. They hover in the horizons, shadowing the land in the evening and morning. Although these mountains are huge, Jesus says in Matthew 17: 20, “‘ For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.’”If Jesus says that we can move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed. What stands in our way from telling the gospel to the nations as Jesus commanded us, in Matthew 28:18-20. He tells us to go to all nations and make disciples, teaching them to obey all that the Lord has commanded, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit. So what hinders us from sharing the wonderful news of the gospel. Sometimes the love of riches could be blocking one from sharing the gospel. Remember the Rich Young Ruler. He had all sorts of treasures and things, but he went away sad from Jesus because he didn’t want to give up his riches. But also remember that things of this world are not eternal. The Bible says in Luke 12: 16-21, “And he[Jesus] told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”‘  But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.’” Mark 8:36 tells us that it is better to have eternal treasure than riches on earth, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” So don’t let anything that will be destroyed in this life block you from storing eternal treasure in heaven. Instead look to God for your provision and protection, and believe that He is faithful to deliver you from your troubles and allow you to do His will, for He is a good God.