Climbing
When i was a boy, i liked to climb. It didn’t matter what “it” was…I’d look at it as a challenge, something that was put there for me to conquer. Every high tree, in and around our property, got climbed … the backstop and goalposts at the ballfield got climbed … every set of stairs was a particular enticement because it provided an extra thrill when i climbed em on the outside of the handrail. I climbed water towers and cell towers, the small brick ledges jutting out from my aunt and uncles 2-story house, and one time, i climbed to the top of a tower in the center-court of the ol’ Jackson Mall…something the Boy Scouts had erected…( had to wait till my mama went into Gayfers before i went up it😁 ). Something bout “heights” got my adrenaline pumpin … and still does. I can just picture Jesus standing on the precipice of the highest point of the temple that day when Satan was trying to get him to sin. The devil told Jesus, “ If you are the Son of God, jump … for it is written,’ He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in your hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ “ Jesus answered him, “It’s also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’ .” ( Matthew 4:5-6 ) So often, we’ll be dared, or worse, double-dog dared, to do something foolish. Folks don’t wanna hurt themselves, but they don’t have a problem with someone else gettin hurt. People make good money off of other people’s idiotic behavior … just look at You Tube or Facebook Reels. Daredevil or dummy ( see? I’m learning not to write some of the things I’m tempted to write 😁 )… we do some pretty stupid things; right ? Why is that ?!? Most of the time, it’s a “pride” thing. We’d rather be recognized and bragged on by our peers than by God. It’s easier to live up to the world’s, and our peer’s expectations than it is to live up to God’s. We fear being ostracized or “left out”, therefore, we try to “blend in” and compromise as the need arises. So… what if Jesus hadda compromised ? What if he’d’ve “jumped”…just to prove that he wasn’t scared ? What if he’d’ve said, “ You know what ? Ya’ll wanna play god if yall want to…I’m goin home !” His humility outshined His heavenly prestige ( Philippians2:7 ). His love for humanity overruled His comfort . He was lifted up on an old rugged cross to die for something He didn’t deserve to die for … “us”… but that didn’t stop him ! He rose to defeat hell, the grave ( 1 Corinthians15:55-58 ), and the sin that holds many of us hostage … and offers us the same opportunity ! If we’d climb down off our high places and humbly submit to His Lordship, we could experience freedom and peace like we never thought possible ( John 8:36 ) ! We wouldn’t have anything to prove, because Jesus already proved it ( John 16:33 ) for us ! Answer Satan’s temptations with the truth contained in God’s word. Jesus did… and ain’t we spose t’ be followin His example ?