
In the last post we spoke about the valley, the desert and the mountaintop experiences of our Christian walk. Elijah and King David had a lot of all three.
Valleys and deserts preceded the mountaintop experiences of King David. This surly was true for Elijah as it is for us. These are places where we submit to God within our heart to His will and ways. In this way we can view each valley and desert as a school of the Holy Spirit, as we learn the ways of the Father. In these valley and desert experiences the confidence of the flesh is exposed and revealed for what it is, which is enmity against God.
Usually we find ourselves on the mountaintop with a crowd waiting and watching to see what we will do and to see what God will do. This is because everyone loves the mountaintop experiences. Therefore while we are on our mountaintop there will be Christians who “jump on the bandwagon” and get as much joy out of our experience as possible. But when we are in the valley or desert, we are usually alone with God. Crowds don’t like to gather in the desert places or the deep valley places, because they are not exciting or fun.
To stand before the Pharaohs and Ahabs in this world, there must always be a period of crucial preparation in loneliness. This pattern is true even of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Except for a few incidents surrounding His birth and one youthful episode in the Temple of Jerusalem, we know nothing about the first thirty years of His life.
Unknown and lonely may be where our lives are now. Even corporately as the Assembly of Saints gather together we can seem alone. Someone in our Church once told me that our fellowship was a great kept secret. Unseen and in places unknown to others, the Lord is dealing with us corporately and bringing us low, even into pits in order to refine us and create in us an unwavering faith.