Faith That Moves Mountains

Note: This picture was taken near Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park in Pall Mall, Tennessee.  I encourage you to watch the movie and visit the park if you are ever in Tennessee or Kentucky (It is right on the state line.)  His story is one of great faith!

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

How do mountains move?

In April 2015, Mount Everest moved three centimeters and changed direction because of an earthquake in Nepal. The study, conducted by the Chinese National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, confirmed the massive mountain moved slightly to the southwest.

Mountains are constantly moving due to plate tectonics.  Simply put, the plates are always shifting around, sometimes so slightly we don't notice, or other times causing earthquakes or tsunamis.

Erosion or Explosion

I live on a mountain.  Okay, it is a very small mountain compared to most, but a mountain by Arkansas standards nonetheless.  When it storms up here, I am always interested to watch the mountainside wash away and change.  Erosion is a slow process.  It's what carved the Grand Canyon starting around 80 million (!) years ago.  If you're expecting a Grand Canyon-scale change to happen in your life, you can guarantee it won't be an overnight process.

The mountain-moving business is either painstakingly slow or violently explosive.  There is very little in between.  How does this apply to Matthew 17:20 and our spiritual lives?

Nothing Will Be Impossible

When I heard Matthew 17:20 preached as a child, I always envisioned something akin to Star Trek's transporter technology.  Think, "Beam me up, Scotty."  (Fun fact: That catchphrase was never actually said in any Star Trek episode.)  I pictured the mountain disappearing and reappearing in a new location.  Of course, God created these mountains, so if He wants to instantaneously move a mountain to a new location, of course He can.  But the God of the Universe likes to operate on His own timetable, not ours.  Rarely do we get what we want the moment that we want it.

If you have a mountain in your life that needs to be moved, either be prepared to wait or for a great upheaval in your life.  Erosion or explosion.  A wearing-away of the old or a bursting-forth of the new.  Either one of these things is going to require faith.

He didn't say it would be quick.  He didn't say it would be easy.  He said it would be possible.