Finally we reached Lepo Bunga at 2.00 pm, ready for the ascent to the Church Camp on Mount Murud, the Holy Mountain. The five-hour dusty and bone-breaking journey from Lawas had not dampened our spirits. Instead we were filled with great anticipation for the final part of our journey. In fact we were more than delighted!
The head porter told us that about 500 people had climbed up a day earlier, and another 800 that morning. We were pilgrims from all parts of the world. We came here at a special time in a special place for a special purpose. It was the 2017 Biennial Prayer Conference at Reked Meligan (Holy Ground in Lun Bawang), 7,000 feet above sea level, from 20th to 24th July. The theme this year was taken from Acts 3:19-20 – “Repent, Return and Experience Spiritual Refreshing.”
The head porter gave us his final instructions, “It will take you 4-5 hours to reach the destination. Just one advice, stay focused on the path and at the same time lift your eyes to the mountain.” That drew my thought to Psalm 121.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
Psalms 120-134 are the Pilgrim Psalms. They are the Songs of Ascent sung by those who journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem for the annual feasts. The remembrance of God’s providence and protection sustain the pilgrims on their journey.
These Psalms of Ascents direct the people of faith to remember who they are and where they are going. On reflection, our Mount Murud ascent is not only physical but also a metaphor for our Christian life. Our lives is an upward journey towards God. We can also learn to sing the Pilgrim Songs as we walk faithfully on a daily journey with Jesus.
Jungle Trails like Life Trials
As we began our ascent we knew that we were on the upward path to God. God was with us giving ultimate blessings for our souls.
The journey was arduous. It was muddy. Very often we needed to walk on the slippery tree roots. At times the climb was steep. Sometimes we slipped but we were never hurt. It taxed our strength and perseverance.
Our focus on the difficult jungle treks cleared our minds from the clutter of our usual daily worries. It prepared our souls for a richer blessing at our destination. In reality, it spoke of the Christian walk in this world, filled with trials. Having stood the test, we will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. This calls for obedience.
A brother shared with us on how he came to this place for the fifth time out of obedience to God’s call! He came alone with a guide during the first trip. He brought his wife on his second trip. For the subsequent trips they joined the Prayer Conference pilgrims. To my surprise, both were not fond of jungle trekking. His wife ascended with pain and tears during her first trip and she still dreads the journey. They came purely out of obedience to God’s call for them to meet Him at the mountain. As they obeyed, God spoke to them each time.
Getting out of our comfort zone in our Christian walk or ministry is always an uphill struggle for many of us. Every so often it is a trial of our faith intended for building us up. We grow stronger each time as we overcome the obstacles.
“The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever.” (Psalm 121:7-8) The pilgrims are reminding themselves of the faithfulness and protection of the Maker of heaven and earth. We can also sing likewise His promise when we face trials in life.
At the Joy Bridge
The initial one-hour climb was the toughest. We were not alone as there were many other fellow pilgrims along the way. Most of them were young people. How encouraging it was to see the young generation desiring to seek God. We saw children, and even mothers carrying their babies. There were older people too, a few obviously having knee problems and yet not deterred by their physical weaknesses. Each step upward is a step of faith.
We heard people cheering with shouts of Hallelujah just before we conquered another steep climb. We had reached the Joy Bridge! Many took a stop, shared their joy and recharged their strength. Though we were all strangers, we knew we all have the same faith, same purpose and same destiny.
As a community, we are called to share another’s burden. We shall identify the “Joy Bridges” in our lives and ministries to renew our strength in the Lord. Of course we shall also experience and share the fruit of our journey: Joy!
Ever-Present Protection
The journey became relatively easier after the Joy Bridge. Altogether it took us three and half hours to reach Batu Linanit. This is one of the lower peaks where we could look up to the sky and appreciate God’s wonderful creation surrounding us. Many offered prayers of thanksgiving here. It was about another 40 minutes walk towards to our destination.
However, not everyone could make it here before sunset. Another brother recounted God’s protection for him and his group of six during their first ascent some years ago. It was much tougher then as it was raining and the path was more muddy and the climb more slippery. When they reached there, it was already after sunset. They were wet, exhausted and unprepared, with no torchlight. As they held hands and prayed, seeking God’s guidance, God spoke clearly in their hearts of His favour. They experienced that the rain was a shower of blessings! Each step that they took from there on was a step of confidence in the Lord. Though some feet were caught in between tree roots, none of them was injured. Wouldn’t you agree this was miraculous?
This brother’s testimony spoke of God’s incredible provision of safety and security especially during the time when they couldn’t even see the direction. “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:2-4) As we face challenges in our faith journey, we need to be reassured that the Keeper of Israel is also our God.
The Moment of Rejoicing
We can’t describe the euphoria when we finally caught sight of the Church Camp. The welcoming cheers of those fellow pilgrims waiting in anticipation of our arrival made us forget the hardship we had experienced. Shouts of “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” filled the air. It was a great moment of rejoicing!
We were elated not because of our physical conquest, but more so for our preparedness to seek Him on this Holy Ground.
The Psalms of Ascents end with a call to worship in Psalm 134. “Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.”
We were looking forward to greater rejoicing, to praise and worship Him over the next three days on this Holy Mountain. We knew that our Creator would bless us during our intimate encounter with Him during the Prayer Conference.
Our Christian journey is like a pilgrim’s ascent. It is not always easy. As pilgrims, every step we take is a step of faith in Jesus. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith… (Heb. 12:2a). We will rejoice with a great cloud of witnesses at our destination one day!