Bernard Voyer spent 40 minutes atop Mount Everest on May 5, 1999. When he arrived home he was given a hero’s welcome at Dorval airport in Montreal. He told the people, “When you get to the top, it’s no use looking up. Everything is at your feet!”
Many have taken up the challenge of climbing to the top of the 29,028-foot peak of the world’s highest mountain. It certainly is an accomplishment. Many have lost their lives in attempting to reach the top of the world. The first to succeed were Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953.
If Mr. Voyer had looked up, he would at least have seen the sky and maybe even some clouds. We wonder if he thanked the God who is above him for his safe return.
On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a Russian astronaut, became the first “man in space.” At the peak of his orbit he was up above the earth only 327 kilometers (200 miles). Yet he made the statement that he “didn’t see God in space.”
Men have always liked challenges that would distinguish themselves. More than 4000 years ago they banded together to build a tower whose top would reach heaven. Their thought was, “Let us make us a name.” God knew their intentions and put a stop to it by confounding their language. The name they gained was “Babel,” meaning “confusion.” This is exactly what characterizes our times. Men have great ideas even in such unstable times. Things are collapsing around them, yet they have no thought of God.
There is One who can truly say that there is nothing above Him. He first humbled Himself and went down lower and lower until He became “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:88And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)).
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11)). Even on top of Mount Everest everything is not at your feet. But Jesus will have all things under His feet and under His control: “Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. . . . He left nothing that is not put under Him” (Hebrews 2:88Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:8)).
YES, there is a God up there! Every human being will have to do with God someday. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)). You can meet Him now as a loving Saviour, or you will meet Him later as your judge.
Jesus came down to earth to die on Calvary’s cross. His blood was shed to wash away every stain of sin from all who believe on Him. “The blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Do you wonder if He will receive you? He will, for Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
One day He will come again in power. He will sit on a great white throne of judgment, and heaven and earth will flee away. Every sinner will stand before Him individually to be judged according to his works. Each one’s own conscience will condemn him. Then one final check: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)).
Jesus said: “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). No believer in the Lord Jesus Christ will ever stand in judgment at that great white throne!
God Himself has provided the way. There is nothing for you to do but believe on Him. That is all He asks. The work is finished. Jesus did it all!
If He had asked us to do some great thing, wouldn’t we try to do it? Of course we would. Many, however, would be unable and would therefore have no hope. Not many of us could climb Mount Everest. God’s way, which is available to all, is simple. It is open to you today. Why wait until it is too late?