It’s Better Higher Up!
I have just ended my prayer time on Dayton Mountain. It was thirty years ago that Mike and Naomi Crain bought out an old camp that required considerable renovation, but nonetheless began holding youth camps through the summer and the National Association for Christian Athletes competitions through the school year. Barbara and I met Mike and Naomi just after we got engaged in Spring, 1973. I was invited to be the speaker for their first youth camp and now for thirty years consecutively I have returned to preach at night and teach during the day. It is amazing to see the growth, new buildings, and above all the increased crowds over the years come and come back. In this week already over fifty young people have walked the aisle to profess faith in Christ! Last night several surrendered for full time Christian service.
Today as I was having my prayer time I saw some traditional sights, the deep, rich rolling mountains of the Cumberland, rain clouds eye level, an occasional butterfly, flowers, and a high soaring golden eagle riding the current of the wind.
One of my prayer spots has been losing its gorgeous panoramic view in recent years. The reason being that the massive trees that grow from the bottom of the nearest plateau have now grown into the line of view. So to get the view that I so desired took some climbing and walking to another spot. But this year my lodging is on the second story of the Crain’s new house. Wow! What a view! From the vantage point of the porch balcony I can see for at least a hundred miles over the trees that were obscuring the view. I could not see the forest (or rest of Tennessee) for the trees. The view is better higher up!
I was reminded of a story told by Dwight L. Moody. He told of a very affluent lady in Chicago that had a lady friend who would be defined as a city missionary. The missionary’s ministry was to encourage the down and out and invalids in the city. The affluent lady could not understand why the humble city missionary was always so happy while she was so discontent with life as she found it. So, one day she asked the missionary friend, “Why are you so happy? I should like to know.” The dear friend replied with a twinkle in her eye, “If you come with me one afternoon, you will find out.”
The affluent lady went with the missionary on her routine rounds and the moment of truth was about to come. The missionary went to a tall, dingy building in a rough area of town. As they entered the tower, the missionary said to her friend, “Follow me.” Reluctantly, the affluent lady followed. After ascending the stairs for two levels, she objected, “I thought you were going to share with me why you’re so happy, so far these stairs are getting darker and narrower.” The missionary said with a sweet smile, “Don’t worry, it’s better higher up.” Up two more flights of stairs and the affluent lady said, “I am ready to turn around. My spirits are getting lower by the climb.” The missionary simply said, “Stay with me, because it’s better higher up.” The affluent friend grumbled all the way up to their destination which was in the top of the building.
Finally, the missionary opened the door at the top of the stairs. The room they entered was very small. But bright sunshine was coming in the open windows and the air was fresher. The missionary led the affluent lady to the bedside of a saint of God. She had been bed-ridden and had not left the room for years. When this information was given to the affluent lady, she had the nerve to ask the sainted shut-in, “How can you stand laying here year after year, no change of scenery, nothing else to do but lay here. How can you stand it?” Without knowing the conversation between the two coming up the stairs, the sainted shut-in lifted her frail arm and pointed up and out the window and with the radiance of heaven on her face answered, “Because it’s better higher up.”
Ah, the blessing to see above and beyond the trees that for years had grown into my view! How sad that many of us as God’s people have become too much like the affluent saint. Saved, but too pre-occupied with our stuff and things of this earth. How we at times need to climb the heights with the missionary saint, who was building for the treasures beyond this world.
When we see things from heaven’s view, it really puts the right perspective on everything else doesn’t it? Let us not miss the forest for the trees! Let us not miss the beauty of God’s plan because our plans, schemes, and possessions have grown into such a dominant point of view that we cannot appreciate what He is doing.
The Bible tells us to cast down every imagination and high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (II Cor. 10:5) Let us all be watchful and not allow those things close up get in the way of the big picture. Keep view of what God is all about and what God is doing. It’s better higher up!
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
- Pastor Pope -