“Who may go up the mountain of the Lord?

And who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart.

He who has not lifted up his soul to what is not true, and has not made false promises. He will receive what is good from the Lord, and what is right and good from the God Who saves him.”

Psalm 24:3-5

This morning I have found myself very distracted and unable to concentrate as I have tried to read my bible.

The Chuck Swindol devotional I am reading referenced this scripture. When I read it, a number of thoughts went through my mind. Thoughts that I wanted to write out on this blog.

I thought it appropriate, the use of the word mountain. As an avid adventure seeking fool, climbing and hiking so many peaks as I have, it really spoke to me.

How difficult ascension of some of them has been.

That’s life. Tough. But the verse speaks to me.

God is always helping me. Always. He’s always walking with me. Hiking with me.

At 52 years old, and 26 years of trying to walk my faith with Jesus, I am finally, FINALLY starting to get it with regard to being righteous.

Whenever reading such verses, I would always think and believe and allow to sink into my soul thoughts like “well, that’s not for me, I ain’t righteous”.

Like I said, finally, I am getting it (Thanks to Martin Luther).

No matter how much I do right, no matter how hard I work to keep myself holy and pure, in comparison to the mighty God, who made the mountain, I will never, ever be fully right.

Never.

It only takes one lie, one lustful engagement, one corrupt word uttered, one temper flair, and it’s over. I cease to be righteous when held up against perfect.

As difficult as it is for me, a man of self imposed obsessive compulsion toward perfection, I am finally understanding.

Because I believe that Jesus Christ was here, he died, and he raised up out of that tomb, defeating death. By the grace of God, I am made righteous. Simply believing that fact means I am fully righteous.

The above promise, then, applies to me!

And boy oh boy do I like how it sounds to receive what is good from the Lord.

As I travel, as I climb, as I hike, this verse will be in my mind constantly now, and the promises of the summit will keep me motivated.

God has blessed me with so much in this life so far.

Great health.

Wonderful kids.

A beautiful, albeit silly, wife.

The opportunity to work for myself.

Strength in the physical and in the mind.

The gift to tell stories and speak to large groups.

So much.

Knowing that there is more to come…very exciting.

Be encouraged. When Christ has saved you, you are fully clean. Fully righteous.

Let the blessings flow.

~rob out