Hilltop Plateau
In life I find plateaus are not as bad as people say;
The term is used to slander those who’ve stopped along their way;
The view in this society is “Ever up and on”,
To rest is somehow sinful, like some chance to gain is gone.But that’s not right, for sin is not some wretched little act,
But rather it’s rebellion from God’s presence as a fact;
Our wretched acts flow out from that (thus plural of the word
Is used, describing life apart from God – no guidance heard).So actions might be “good” or “bad” or “nice” or “downright mean”,
And be quite “sinful” in this sense despite how they might seem;
For when we live out on our own as beasts, or rebel foes,
Our way of life is limited to what from us then flows.When we let life flow through from God to others on the plain,
The rich resource that’s found in Him abounds to others’ gain;
Here I have found a sweet plateau of pause amidst the climb,
Located in the heavenlies – perspective new is mine.We start with rest in Jesus Christ, here in the heavenlies;
We walk in Him on earthly paths, like walking on our knees;
And stand against the foes’ attack in Him as He prevails;
To me that’s better than alone when evil then assails.“My yoke is easy, burden light, come unto me and rest,”
Said Jesus to the folks He knew, in offering His best;
There’s lots to do, (more “this and that” to give Him room to act,
Than striving ever “up and on” when rest-in-Him is fact).But when assignments come our way, and we’re sent down to earth,
We find that dying to ourselves results in other’s birth;
For fruitfulness of seed that dies is thirty, sixty-fold,
Or hundred, if condition’s right and we at task are bold.But even while we do our work, our rest is found in Him;
The striving’s gone; we rest content; freed from that life of “sin”;
We’re not alone, there’s body-life of interacting gifts;
With restful work, abundant life – the old way is not missed.navigation