Upward and Onward

by Heather Tietz

This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Video games entered American homes in the early 1970s. At my house, Dad brought home a computer by a company called Texas Instruments. One of the first video games I recall playing was Alpiner. With the skillful maneuvering of the keyboard arrow keys, we tried to safely climb six of the tallest mountains of the world, dodging avalanches, falling bird eggs, annoyed rattlesnakes, skunks, bears and even Yeti skiers. Regardless of what trouble was in view or how often it kept appearing, we had to keep climbing “upward and onward” as the game would say. There was no other way to win, no secret passages, no short-cuts, no way to reach the goal, but carefully clicking those keyboard arrows.

Perhaps our Christian lives are a bit like Alpiner. We have one goal, one duty, one path, upward, after Jesus and His excellent climbing skills. We, ourselves, are limited on how to avoid disaster. It comes sometimes hurling at us. It knocks us down. But then, we get back up (if not on this earth, then in Heaven). Though there’s no quick way to win, but we do have access to the game designer Himself.

How is the mountain you’re climbing? Is it wrought with danger, or are you passing through a field of flowers? Our duty is still the same. Seek Him in the hard times. Seek Him in the good. Thank Him for both. Your spiritual muscles are getting stronger.