Let's Go Up to the Mountain

As we were driving home the other day with Casper Mountain on our left, Shelley commented, "I hope I never get tired of that view." I've been on Casper Mountain numerous times for mountain biking, hiking, and trail running. I've taken my side-by-side up on Casper and Muddy Mountains. People keep telling me how bad the winters are here … so, if winter ever arrives and we get snow, I plan to learn how to cross country ski. I'll also be taking out my fat tire bike on Casper Mountain.

All of you are invited to hike, bike, run, or ski Casper Mountain with me at any time. Let's go up to the mountain.

Isaiah writes, "This is the message that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. This will take place in the latter days: The mountain of the Lord's house will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it like a river. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob'" (Isaiah 2:1-3).

The city of Jerusalem is located in the middle of several mountains. We would call them hills compared to the Smokies or Rockies. They're not particularly tall. Especially when I've seen signs about Wyoming being proud of its lack of population and height of its mountains. The signs read, "You know you're living in the right place when the elevation of your city is greater than its population."

Casper Mountain is around 8130 feet above sea level. The Mount of Olives is 2710 feet. Mount Moriah is 2428 feet. Israel is clearly not flat land, but it seems like a stretch to say, "The mountain of the Lord's house will be established as the chief of the mountains" (Isaiah 2:2). It seems even odder to say people of the world will stream up to that mountain, since we know that streams flow downhill.

Mount Moriah was the site where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Mount Moriah is also the place where King Solomon had built the Lord's temple. It stood for four centuries as the gleaming gathering place for God's people. It was where the Israelites went to hear God's Word, sing God's praises, and bring God sacrifices. God was mysteriously and majestically present in the Most Holy Place in the temple on the Lord's mountain.

Isaiah is speaking symbolically. This mountain will be established as God's chief mountain and people from every nation will stream to this mountain for the same reason – Jesus! Jesus was crucified near Mount Moriah. This is where the Father did sacrifice his Son. Now Jerusalem is honored above all cities because this is where Jesus taught, suffered, died, was buried, and rose from the dead. I'm reading books on the Crusades. Because all these events happened in Jerusalem, Christian Crusaders traveled long distances to fight and free God's holy city from Muslim rule. Then Christian pilgrims could travel safely to worship on God's holy mountain.

Jesus prophesied that people would stream to him. "Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" (John 12:31-32). St. John explains that Jesus said this "to indicate what kind of death he was going to die" (John 12:33).

Jesus' prophecy was fulfilled. He was lifted up from the earth upon Calvary's cross. Israel's God willingly chose to suffer and die for his people – not only the people of Israel, but for all the people of the world. By his death and resurrection, Jesus brings divine judgment upon the world. He drives out the Devil, who has claimed the position of prince of this world. He brings blessing in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21:9).

Jesus' prophecy continues to be fulfilled in Christian churches where the crucified and resurrected Christ is preached and his Sacraments are administered. These churches are the Lord's temple here on earth. There is the mountain of the Lord. There people will be streaming to the Lord's mountain. Jesus promises, "Where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am among them" (Matthew 18:20).

People are streaming to the Lord's Mountain from nations where Christians are being persecuted by Muslims. Nations like Nigeria, Somalia, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Even though America has become lazy and apathetic toward Christianity, still more young people are going to conservative, smells and bells churches in our nation. Christian music is on the top of the charts. Young people are buying physical Bibles.

We've experienced our own little stream here at Lord of Lords. We've had more people attending worship services, Bible studies, and fellowship events. Like Garden Creek Falls, it's a small, but steady stream. God's promise is being fulfilled. God's Word is being preached. His Word is being taught. His Word will work. "Then he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths" (Isaiah 2:3). God's Good News will draw people to his mountain. In the midst of this world's war and chaos, the message of the Prince of Peace will cause people to stream from far and wide.

Success, not failure, is the mark of God's Church. Although we are the Church Militant, we must not be the Church Pessimistic! The battle is tough, but the victory has already been won. Recognizing the lateness of the hour gives the church purpose. God's Word is the message. That Word produces faith. That faith enjoys and expresses itself in peace.

"He will judge between the nations, and he will mediate for many peoples. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:4-5). Jesus prophesied that in these last days, "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:7). Yet Isaiah prophecies the effect that God's Word will have on the inhabitants of these nations and the peoples of these kingdoms. God's Word judges between these nations and settles disputes for these peoples. His Word alone is the standard of right belief and moral behavior. God's Word will bring peace. First, peace in people's hearts. Then peace in people's homes. Then peace in the nations.

Jesus promises that only he can bring this peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27). Christ's peace is beyond our limited understanding. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

God brought peace to the hearts of people when he kept his promise to send his one and only Son. Jesus came as an infant in Bethlehem to bring peace. The multitude of the heavenly army sang in the Bethlehem sky, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind" (Luke 2:13-14). Jesus came to bring peace to the earth by living and suffering and dying for a world full of sinners. Because of Jesus' perfect life and innocent death and glorious resurrection, we have peace. We have the peace of knowing that there's nothing we can do to save ourselves because Jesus has done everything. We have the peace of knowing that we don't need to satisfy God's wrath against our sins because Jesus has washed them away. We have peace because Jesus has set us free – free from sin; free from death; free from the devil.

That peace is yours in Jesus! That peace is what moves you to travel to the mountain of the Lord for worship. That peace is what moves you to walk in the light of the Lord.

Do you want this lasting peace? Do you want a peace that quiets your guilty conscience? Then climb Mount Calvary by faith and find refuge under the cross. Do you want a peace that no diagnosis, disaster, or death can dissolve? Then walk in the light of the Lord, and he will direct your eyes to the day when he will craft the weapons of death into instruments of life.

God's people are characterized by peace within and without. Non-Christians don't understand this peace. They don't get how you can have physical pain and still be at spiritual peace. They don't understand that with all the wars and rumors of wars, you are at peace because you know Jesus predicted these as signs of the End Times. They don't understand how while you mourn, you can still be at peace knowing your Christian loved one is at home with the Lord. They don't understand how you are called to live in peace and turn the other cheek, but at the same time be a ready Crusader to protect your loved ones and be a maker of peace (Matthew 5:9). Keeping peace is defensive. Making peace is offensive. We make peace with demonstrations of strength, power, and violence. Who is stronger and has more power than Jesus Christ, our King, our Lord, and the Commander of the Lord's heavenly army?

With the people of Isaiah's time, we look forward to the final Advent of our Lord when we won't need any offensive or defensive weapons. When the Lord Jesus comes with his final Advent, it will be greater and more glorious than when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On that Day, swords will be replaced with plows and spears will have their blades bent for pruning trees. We long for the Day when there will be no more of our nation's soldiers training for battle. It will also be the day when Christ's soldiers can put down their weapons. There will be no more spiritual wars, persecution or Christian crusades. There will be no more need for any of these things because there will be nothing to fight about. The Lord will step in to settle every dispute. He will bring his people into his temple on the mountain of the Lord.

If you go up to Casper Mountain with me, you probably won't find peace. More than likely, you'll find pain. Ask anyone whose hiked or biked with me. The pain of sore muscles, tired legs, and if you fall, maybe a bruised bottom. But you'll also know that you have accomplished something difficult.

Jesus promises peace. This isn't a peace that police or politicians or protesters can bring. It's only a peace that comes through the love of Jesus Christ. It's a peace that the world cannot bring. But Jesus can. So, let's go up to the mountain. Amen.