High Places

Recently, the phrase "high places" has been a recurring theme in my life. I have started reading the book, Hinds' Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard based on Habakkuk 3:19, "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." At the same time I was studying King Josiah in 2 Chronicles 34:1, who, by the way, is an excellent example of what God can do with a life that seeks Him from a young age. In Josiah's quest to follow God, he purged Judah and Israel from the high places. These are two very different references to high places in the Bible. Thus began my more in-depth study of high places.

Interestingly, both of these high places -- the good high places in Habakkuk and the bad high places in 2 Chronicles -- are translated from the same Hebrew word. A good example of our tendency to take the things God intends for His purposes and use them for something completely different... What are high places? I believe they represent how we handle circumstances in life -- from the slightly uncomfortable to the extremely uncomfortable. Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." I believe this represents the high places God desires to take us. Often, however, we tend to seek more immediate, tangible relief from our stresses, even under the guise of religious activity.

As I skimmed the references to "high places" on Online Bible, a sad story began to emerge. Through the history of all the kings of Judah and Israel, the vast majority of them -- even the good kings -- failed to remove the high places in which the people sacrificed to pagan gods. These unholy practices had been such a part of their culture, it seemed unthinkable and unnecessary for them to remove them. In essence, their excuses likely came down to "everybody's doing it" and "it doesn't hurt anything". They had become so accustomed to the unholiness, that it no longer seemed unholy to them. To remove the high places was too uncomfortable and too restrictive.

Recently, it came to my attention that I view some of life through that lens of being uncomfortable and restrictive. For instance, I have had a tendency to see our "barely making ends meet" status, now so exacerbated by rising gas and grocery costs, as just that -- restrictive, uncomfortable. I have allowed it to be such a burden, I have failed to enjoy the miraculous ways in which God has provided for us. Truly, I have seen His blessing and provision from a curse-perspective! How sad! My viewpoint has been from an earthly perspective, desiring the comfort of a little more wiggle room in the financial department. What joy I have missed!

God is calling us to view high places from His perspective. Sadly, the vast majority of references to high places in the Bible are negative... How many times do Christians choose alternate high places -- from religious activity to unholy practices that have been part of our culture for so many years we have become comfortable with their unholy nature? In fact, to remove those things from our lives would seem very restrictive and uncomfortable. So, when other Christians point out the unholiness of these activities, we are quick to say they are legalistic and narrow-minded. I think we often choose to use the high places to which God has called us in a manner other than He intended. Are we viewing His call to dwell solely with Him in the high places of life as restrictive and uncomfortable -- forcing us to let go of those things that give us false security and failing to recognize unholiness? What if... what if.... what if we changed our perspective and saw instead the great freedom that comes from letting go of all the "weight and sin which doth so easily beset us"? What if we trusted that in answering his call to live a holy life in the high places with him we could experience a life with our heavenly Father that we have never imagined possible? What if we came to know our God on a completely different, more intimate level?

This is what God is calling me to do. This is my newest challenge -- and one I am very much looking forward to -- by His grace and His power. What about you? Can we together be one of the references to the good high places or will we join the vast majority who choose to use the high places in a compromising manner?