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Back in college, I attended a winter conference with hundreds of other students from the Great Lakes region.  Following a session one night where Earl Creps had spoken, we worshipped God and prayed around the front of the large banquet hall.  A good friend and pastor I looked up to came over, prayed with, and encouraged me.  He said (slight paraphrase since it’s been a while), “Chris, God has done some amazing things in your life, but now it’s time to clean out the fireplace of your heart – all the ashes – and ask God to burn a new fire in you.”  He was right on the money.  I can remember how the days surrounding this event seemed to run into one another and I was just so anxious for God to do something new.  This experience revealed how I had held too tightly to past triumphs leaving little room for new ones.  My life and journey with Christ had stagnated in many ways and it was time to move on to what was next in His plan.  This was not (is not) to say it is wrong or unwise to remember the victories God gives us in life, but I realized (as in sports) the trophy room is worthless once the dust collects – time to win again! Read Luke 9:27-36:

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Eight days after Jesus told his disciples some of them would actually get the Kingdom of God before they die, He goes up a mountain to pray with His close companions and is met by Moses and Elijah – pretty amazing!  As Jesus discusses what sounds like his itinerary to Heaven with the two men of God, Peter and the others wake up from a nap and see the most glorious thing ever.  Then, just like any of us (especially me), Peter decides to setup camp so they (Jesus, Peter, James, John, Elijah, and Moses) can stay the night and hang out on top of the mountain.  Thankfully, God interrupts Peter and speaks from the clouds.  Moses and Elijah depart and Jesus begins His descent from the mountain immediately – He couldn’t stay up there – His destiny was in Jerusalem.

On the road following Jesus, at the height of our service and joy with Him, many of us will set-up camp and almost try to bottle the experience so we don’t ever lose it.  I remember leading worship at another college event and dusting off an old song we had sung the previous year when we experienced amazing times with God.  I was frustrated by how the same experience couldn’t be replicated.  We did the same song, the same dance, had most of the same people – but not the same result.  Why?  Because the Holy Spirit was looking to do something new and in order to move with the Spirit, we had to ask Him, “what’s next?” and stop looking for “what was”.

As Ruth and I plunge into new adventures in Hamtramck, I am already anticipating this tension.  God is bringing us into an amazing community where we will develop deep friendships with other people looking to see the Kingdom before they taste death.  We will serve together, play together, and work together.  But what’s next in God’s Kingdom?  We don’t know, but just as we are saying (and have said) goodbye to our current mountaintop we will one day look out to a new destination with God.  Some of our friends will follow Jesus into new places and we’ll say goodbye.  Some projects will come to end and make room for new ones.  The Kingdom will move us again just as it moves us now.

There is no fear involved in any of this, however.  We put our trust in Jesus and we can listen to Him and know He leads us where we will see His glory – even in death – and eventually in eternal life.

Following Christ is a transient experience.  You pack light, wear good shoes, and learn to use Skype.

• Do you have great triumphs in your trophy room?
• Would you leave them behind to win again?
• Are you attempting to live on top of the mountain?
• What is next for you in God’s Kingdom?
• How are you at saying “Goodbye”?