A. Mt. Everest
a. May 29, 1953 – Mt. Everest was conquered by Sir Edmund Hillary
i. An amazing feat
ii. Made mankind collectively stand up and take notice
iii. It had been tried by so many before…and so many had died.
iv. It had been attempted by so many before…and nearly 100 years after Everest had been discovered by Sir George Everest, the summit was finally reached!
b. Since that time, hundreds have made the journey successfully to the summit of Everest.
i. But even with new high tech gear, about 1 in 4 die trying.
ii. So how do those that succeed survive? How did Edmund Hillary defy the odds and survive one of God’s most awesome and fearsome creations?
B. As God’s children…
a. How will we be survivors in this world?
i. It’s easy to survive flat lands and sunny days…but what about mountains and storms?
ii. Jesus said in the Garden in John 17:14 that the world will HATE his disciples because we are not of this world…we are different…we call heaven home…
iii. Paul told the Christians in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 4:8 – 10 – we are hard pressed, but not crushed; perplexed (troubled), but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed!
iv. Peter told those Christians who were scattered in 1 Peter 4:12 – 13 that they should not think the fiery trials they were going through strange but that they should REJOICE in the sufferings for Christ so his glory may be revealed and that we would be joyful!
b. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE THE KIND OF SURVIVORS TALKED ABOUT HERE?
c. Let’s go back to Sir Edmund Hillary and Mt. Everest…
i. In the 50 years since that first summit, Sir Hillary has given many interviews…
ii. As you listen to him or read what he says, you will see some key elements immerge that give us some clue – how they survived…
C. How they did it…and how we can do it!
a. Preparation
i. Ever heard the expression measure once cut twice…wait, is that it?
ii. When it comes to important journeys/tasks, we must first prepare ourselves…
1. Taking a test…you study.
2. Want to be a basketball player…you practice.
3. Running a marathon…you train.
4. You make sure you prepare your mind and body for the journey.
5. Warehouse Manager – running a marathon in slippers – wrong tools for the job.
6. You get the right equipment and learn from the proper resources to survive the journey, whatever it may be.
iii. Sir Hillary was a beekeeper by trade, but he loved to climb mountains so he spent his time conquering smaller peak.
1. Gradually moving up to where he had conquered 11 different peaks over 20,000 feet.
2. He didn’t get stung by a bee, decide he wanted to climb mountains and rush right out to Everest first…he prepared himself for the journey.
iv. As God’s people, if we are to survive in the world, we must prepare!
1. What does that mean…the right tool for the right job…
2. What’s the right tool…The Word of God!
a. And we can’t know a tool we have never spent time with or used.
b. We better study God’s Word – write it on our hearts – keep it in our hearts – Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.
c. How can we expect to fight off temptation and sin if we don’t even have the right tools, the right weapons!
d. If we don’t prepare our minds and hearts to serve God ahead of time, we run the risk of not serving God at all.
i. Of compromising our faith
3. And don’t forget the armor of God…
a. We’re soldiers in a spiritual war that’s raging around us everyday.
b. Would you be crazy enough to walk onto a literal battlefield without at least a shield to protect yourself?
c. Then why do we walk out the doors of our homes and into the doors of our schools and workplaces having chucked the armor we need in the battle in the backseat of the car thinking…”Ah, I’ll be ok!”
d. Ephesians 6:10 – 20
4. Let’s be prepared for the journey, the tasks, the battle that lies ahead.
5. If we want to survive, we must be prepared.
b. Pilot
i. Saw a sign the other day…”If God’s your co-pilot, you’d better switch seats!”
ii. We all need guidance and direction in life.
iii. What would we do without parents, teachers, ministers, elders, mentors?
1. These are people that guide us and lead us and help us keep our steps on the right path.
2. We so badly want to fly the plane and yet, we have no idea how to do it right!
iv. Sherpas
1. There was another person with Edmund Hillary when he reached the peak of Everest – a Sherpa named Tenzing Norgay.
a. The Sherpas have made basically every trip up Everest since they began in the early 1920’s.
b. The 250,000 or so that live in the region are your pilots on the trip up Everest…good reason
i. Live in the high altitudes – no altitude sickness
ii. They are considered some of the greatest climbers in the world – agility and strength.
iii. They begin training to be guides very early on – as young as age 5.
iv. This how they make their living – it’s their livelihood for their families.
1. Average Sherpa makes $7/day for 60days of climbing and has an allowance of $1200-1500 for climbing equipment.
2. Average Nepalese makes $150/year – Sherpas do very well.
c. Sherpas know every inch of that area…and if you’re going to make the trip, you’d better have a Sherpa with you as a guide.
d. In fact, Sir Hillary himself has said that the true heroes of Everest are the Sherpas.
2. For a climber, a sherpa is your pilot. You let them fly the plane and you have a chance to make it...
v. Solomon said in Proverbs 3:5/6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.
1. Lean not on your own understanding…
a. How often have you looked at God and said…”I got it..you relax…I’m good, if I need you I’ll holler!”
b. WHAT!
2. There’s some good reasons I shouldn’t be piloting:
a. I don’t know how to fly!
b. I don’t even own the plane – it’s God’s!
3. We need to drill into our heads and hearts that God KNOWS what He’s doing!
a. He does know what is best for me…
b. He has traveled the path I am traveling…
c. One reason God sent Christ?
i. See Heb. 4:16
ii. God knew that someone who could stand as a mediator for us would give us that much greater a chance for mercy and grace and an eternity in heaven!
4. If we are going to be survivors in this world, we have to quit telling God what to do, how to do it and why…
a. And start praying to God -- You are my God and I am your servant – lead me, guide me, direct my paths – for you and you alone know what’s best for me…
c. Purpose
i. Joshua – his book, the cell phone
1. In his mind, the purpose of that book was not for reading but for talking to his Pa at work…
2. And he brings it to everyone, and if you didn’t – this look of disappointment.
3. BUT THAT’S WHAT IT’S FOR DAD!
4. He had found a purpose for it and was bound and determined to follow through…
ii. Sir Hillary had one purpose – climb Mt. Everest.
1. Sir Hillary had a real passion for climbing.
a. It started at a fairly young age and never let up.
b. Whatever journey he started he was determined to complete.
c. Whatever mountain he climbed, he was focused on reaching the summit.
2. That singular purpose kept him moving and going and driving to the top of the great mountain.
3. He wasn’t interested in fame or fortune or wealth…he simply loved to climb mountains.
iii. If we are going to be survivors in this world, we must have a clear view of our purpose…our goal.
1. Colossians 3:23 – And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
2. Our Goal – Do with all your heart for God and not men.
a. Too often we are more concerned with whether we please each other than whether we please God!
b. This isn’t modeling competition for the world – his faith is weak but he looked FABULOUS!
c. Above everything we do in life must be the driving force that we are doing it for God and not men.
i. School – see if going to school and doing your homework because you love God doesn’t help your attitude about it.
ii. Work – see if working for God and not just punching a clock doesn’t cause you to be more productive.
iii. Family – see if being the best son, daughter, husband, wife, father or mother for God doesn’t improve your family’s life and anchor it more in God!
d. When we work for men, it becomes about us.
e. When we work for God, it’s about the Mission…the purpose…the Goal…working for Him!
f. As we stand at the foot of the mountain, we have to ask ourselves ---
i. Do I climb the mountain because I hope to gain something?
ii. Do I climb the mountain because I hope to gain something for God?
3. Paul finishes that sentence in Colossians 3:24 by saying – knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
4. You want the eternal inheritance of the God of creation – of the Father of all mankind – the Lord of heaven?
a. You have to be a survivor…
b. You want to be a survivor…you have to do it to the Lord and not men!
D. Being a Survivor…
a. Some 50 years following that great journey to the summit of Mt. Everest, Sir Hillary still admits that he didn’t know if he’d be a survivor since none before him had accomplished what he hoped to…
b. As God’s people though, we can be sure…we have the greatest guide in the universe and his guidebook to boot…
c. To be a Survivor of the world and it’s ways, as God’s people we must:
i. Prepare – don’t lose your soul because you didn’t take the time to prepare yourself for the battle. Get the right tools for the right job!
ii. Pilot – don’t lose your soul because you were too proud or too vain to let God fly the plane. God’s owns the plane; let him direct your paths.
iii. Purpose – don’t lose your soul because you lost sight of your goal…your purpose. The purpose isn’t service to you it’s service to God. Keep God as your primary focus and the journey won’t seem quite so treacherous as it so often can.
