Wrong Ladder

Edmund Hillary once expressed surprise that it was he -- "an ordinary person with ordinary qualities" -- who became the first man to conquer the world's tallest peak. He spent the rest of his life telling the story of the climb up Mount Everest that made him one of the 20th century's best-known adventurers. But he maintained his reputation for humbleness, while working to aid the impoverished people of Nepal. Have you ever had the thoughts of getting to the top or as many say “the top of the ladder?” Who doesn’t want a better life for their family as well as their self? But what if you fought your way all the way to the top of the ladder only to find out that you were at the top of the wrong ladder?  Jacob did that; Jonah did that and they both found that they were at the top of the wrong ladder. They were running hard and fast in the wrong direction; a direction away from God and not toward God. Jacob was busy tricking and deceiving everyone while Jonah was running away from God in the opposite direction. What about ourselves? Maybe God doesn’t want you to be president of the company. Maybe God doesn’t want you to be wealthy. A man quit his job making $150,000 dollars a year to pastor a Church only able to pay him $30,000 dollars a year. You may say that was a poor business move. Better to be at the top of the right ladder making $30,000 a year than be at the top of the wrong ladder making $150,000.  We may never understand why God does certain things but one day when we look back we will see clearly. Joseph in prison for something he never did; but God had him there so He could move him into the palace. Don’t complain where you find yourself today as long as you know you are where God wants you and you will find that it will bring joy and happiness into your life. One day like Joseph you too will be able to look back and say “now I see why I had to go through all that and you like Joseph will say “it was worth following God to be where I am today". So whatever you do don’t find yourself at the top of the wrong ladder. Have a great weekend and find you way to the House of God this weekend; you’ll be glad you did.