Mount Everest: 29,035 Feet. To put this mountain into perspective, if you jumped out of an airplane cruising at 29,000 feet, it would take a little over 3.5 minutes before you hit the ground. Since the late 1950’s, men and women have pushed themselves to the summit — a place where virtually nothing can survive and birds cannot soar. Those who have tested themselves against the great mountain have been effected in profound ways. In 1996, one in seven people to reach the summit did not survive the descent. It has tested the accomplished and vanquished the ill-prepared.
What you may not know is that over sixty million years ago, Mount Everest was little more than a sand bar on the ocean floor. One day, pressure began to build underneath the sea floor. Underground plates began to push away from each other, which allowed molten rock to push upward through the resulting gaps. Over time, the rock formed a reef; a habitate for marine life — but God wasn’t satisfied with a reef. After several million years, the boiling, molten rock continued to push the reef upward until it broke the surface of the sea and formed what would have been a beautiful island — but God was not building an island.
Plates continued to pull, press, and tug deep within the earth. It was extremely violent as molten rock continued to push the Island upward and eventually formed a large beautiful hill, covered with flora and fauna. But God was not building a hill. He created additional turmoil under the plates to stimulate further growth. Over time, the beautiful hill had become a mountain. But God wasn’t building just any mountain, so He continued to work on His masterpiece. The mountain continued to grow until it reached the perfect height. When God had finished, He crowned the mountain with a beautiful blanket of snow.
God had taken a sandbar that could hardly be recognized at the bottom of the Ocean and over sixty million years, He molded it into the greatest mountain on the planet. We all face adversity over the course of a lifetime. What we may not realize is that adversity is often one of God’s greatest gifts.
I know, you’re asking yourself if this could possibly be a true story. The answer is “yes.” Underneath the white robe of snow, seashells can be found all across the summit of Mount Everest.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Prayer:
Wonderous Father, we are amazed at your creation. It is difficult for our simple minds to understand the purpose of adversity. Ignore our simplistic prayers to relieve us of our burdens. Mold us in your image so that we may receive the crown you have prepared for us. In the name of Jesus,
-Amen
Ross
