About twice a year I am privileged to teach at a small Bible institute near Yerevan, Armenia (the capital of Armenia). I usually teach two weeks each time I am there. The center where the classes are held is located on a hill in a village about 30 minutes from the center of Yerevan. Sometimes, from this place you can see Mount Ararat, where Moses’ ark landed at the end of the great flood.
One morning early during my time at the center, I go to the room where I am staying and look toward Mount Ararat. To my great pleasure, I have a clear view of it. No clouds obscure my view. The mountain stands with its snow-capped peaks in stark contrast with the clear blue sky surrounding it. I had seen Mount Ararat before, but once again I was awestruck by its majesty. I have now been here almost two weeks. I go out every morning, hoping to get another look at this wondrous mountain. However, the clouds have yet to clear again and allow me to see Ararat in all its glory. On the days I cannot see it, I find myself wishing that every day could be like that day I looked up and saw it clearly. I want that bright and shining moment to be repeated frequently. However, life is not like that. In life there are bright and sunny days filled with unforgettable experiences, and there are mundane days filled with routine.
In Mark Chapter 9, Peter struggled with this. “Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves (v. 2 ESV). And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus (vv. 2-4 ESV).” In response to seeing this, Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah (v.5).” Peter said this because “he did not know what to say, for they were terrified (v. 6).” Peter, along with James and John, were in the middle of a supernatural event, and Peter did not know what to do. So, as was typical for him, he blurted out the idea of making temporary shelters so they could stay on that mountain for a long time. One thing is clear. Peter did not want to leave that place. This was a great moment, literally a mountaintop experience, and he wanted to make it last as long as possible. Jesus did not let him do this. After Moses and Elijah disappeared, he led the trio back down the mountain (vv. 7-9).
Once back down, Jesus was confronted with human need once again. A father had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, hoping that they could rid his son of a demon that had possessed him since birth (vv. 17-21). However, the disciples had not been able to help the boy (v. 18). The father was desperate for he had lost all hope the boy could become better. Even when he asked Jesus to help the boy, he said, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us (v. 22 ESV).” Jesus responded by challenging the man to have faith. And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes (v. 23 ESV).” The father wanted to believe Jesus could help, but his hopes had been dashed to such an extent that the best he could say was, “I believe; help my unbelief (v. 24 ESV)!” Nevertheless, Jesus delivered the boy from the demon. He “rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again (v. 25 ESV).’ And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose (vv. 26-27 ESV).”
Jesus’ person and majesty were displayed again here in the valley as it had been on the mountaintop. But this time it was not through his body being transfigured and his clothes shining with the glory of God. No, this time his person and power were displayed by him doing the impossible of casting out a demon to help a boy and his father. The son and the father had a mountaintop experience without ever going up on the mountain. Jesus met them in the valley and changed their lives. Jesus was God on the mountain where his radiance shined, and he talked with Moses and Elijah, and he remained God in the valley where he encountered a demon, and showed his power over evil, and his desire and ability to help those plagued by evil.
My experience with seeing Mount Ararat and my reflecting on Mark Chapter 9 have caused me to remember the chorus in an old southern gospel song, “God on the Mountain.”
“For the God on the mountain, is the God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night.”
I do not know what you are going through during this period of your life. Maybe you are up on the mountain with the Lord. Things are going well. If so, enjoy this time. Treasure each second of it. But remember, just as Peter had to come down from the Mount of Transfiguration, you too will have to come down once again to the valley of everyday life that is filled with struggle and temptations. If you are going through a difficult valley, remember that God has not changed nor has he left you. He is still the same almighty God that he was in the good times. You just may not be able to see his hand at work in your life as you did when things were going well. Cling to him. Trust in him. If you are struggling to do this, cry out like the father in Mark Chapter 9, “I believe, but help my unbelief.”
I do not know if I will get to see Mount Ararat again this time while I am in Armenia, but I do know that it is there right where it was that day I saw it so clearly. So, it is with our God.
DAN UPCHURCH is a native of Bollinger County. He and his wife, Lori, spent many years as missionaries in Ukraine and currently serve in Poland.
