Sometimes, I find myself in a weird headspace. It’s a strange funk where I feel pressure from a sense of hopelessness, like everything I want to see happen, won’t. And nothing is ever going to change for me or this world, like no amount of faith can move this massive, ancient mountain that has always been here. I feel its weight. All the people have just accepted the fact that the mountain will be here forever, that nobody can do anything, and decide to go around it. “That’s what people have always done,” they say. But what no one knows is that they will be driving around the mountain for the rest of their lives, never making it to the other side. No one knows the mountain will be the death of them. Except the mountain, that is. He’s been strategically placed by the ruler of this world and knows full well what his purpose is – to distract us from the Kingdom of God and His purpose. The mountain is the cause of one giant detour. It’s so obvious and we’re so oblivious. Even to us believers, the ones not of this world, we are distracted and eventually follow suit.

God has revealed the name of the mountain – selfishness. There is nothing more all consuming than being selfish. It encapsulates all of sin. It’s the motive behind lust, pride, envy, the love of money and every other sin. Think about it and you will see. Selfishness is the adversary of God and the assailant of our hearts. Satan is the master of distraction, luring us away from the narrow road with enticing, little entrapments. He lays out a trail of tasty treats and we pop them in our mouths one by one, skipping along to the next selfish snack. Indulging ourselves increases our craving, but why should we stop? Our culture is built around this mountain and no one seems to question its presence. Probably because we love it. But there will be a day when we suddenly look up, cheeks packed with greed, and we won’t know where we are. “Have I really strayed this far?”

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” -James 3:16

If the mountain isn’t moved, nothing is going to change for us. At least not for the better. But if someone can destroy the mountain, there will be a new way into the promised land, the promised life we were told we could have. Access to Jesus in a way never thought possible. Dethroning self absorption unlocks the Kingdom and we’ve been given the keys. Someone must walk upstream, against the flow of traffic, and refuse to be included in the millions of those who are so blatantly missing the whole point. There’s no time to be led astray. We are the ones. There is a way. And we are moving.

Yet, I have to be real with you about the outcome. It is a humbling thing I realized the other day – our efforts will not end in victory. There is no victory for this fallen world. Not until Jesus comes back. The truth is a harsh reality most aren’t willing to face. Nevertheless, the mountain must be destroyed. We fight until the final victory when Jesus returns and overthrows the ruler of earth. We will fight until we’re free.