LIFE ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL

"When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Then He began to teach them, saying:” (Matthew 5:1, 2 HCSB)

There was a man who loved to climb mountains. In fact, he continued to do so, even into old age. Then came that fateful day, when his failing grip weakened, he slipped and plummeted to his death. On his tombstone they engraved, “HE DIED CLIMBING.”

I want that to be said of me! God calls us to be ever climbing, higher and higher in our relationship with Him until at last we reach our home above.

Jesus, the great King, sits on the mountain as if on a throne and summons His subjects to Him. There He will enunciate the precepts for His kingdom. They climb up to Him. What they did physically is what all disciples must do spiritually. We are to be mountain climbers. The call of Christ is to experience life on the highest level.

We listen and learn that life on the highest level involves THE RIGHT DISPOSITION.

The fifth chapter of Matthew lays out the foundational principles that govern the kingdom of God. To live on the highest level is a call to radical thinking that brings righteous living. That becomes our disposition that determines our direction upward.

In summation, Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Father is perfect.” (Matt.5:48) That is the pinnacle we are aiming for—the highest of heights in heaven and becoming a son who fully favors his Father.

OUR DISPOSITION IS DETERMINED BY OUR ATTITUDE (Matt.5:3-16)

This is about what we are to be: God calls us to be salt and light (5:13-16). Those who are experiencing life on the highest level are becoming like this. It is what we are.

To be salt and light means that I am distinctly different from those about me. This is what makes salt and light potent—salt is so different that it seasons and light is so distinct that it shines. Believers who are salt arrest the spread of corruption in this rotten world. They are about the preservation of society. Christians who are light dispel the darkness in this sin-benighted world. They are about the illumination of society.

Becoming salt and light requires an inner transformation. Repentance means I change my way of thinking. It involves my attitude, and that is what verses 3-12 are about. They are called the Beatitudes—taken from the word, “blessed” that launches each statement. But, someone has modified that to call them, “the Be-Attitudes,” that is attitudes which determine what we are to be as children of the King.

Look at the sequence.

I acknowledge my spiritual poverty (v.3). I am morally bankrupt and unworthy of heaven. Until I admit that, I cannot possess the wealth of heaven.

Acknowledging my spiritual poverty leads me to grieve over my sinful state (v.4). Only those who are convicted of sin will know the comfort of salvation.

Acknowledging my spiritual poverty and mourning over it means I am humbled before the Holy One (v.5). Pride is set aside and meekness is embraced. But, those who humble themselves will be exalted—and we can gain the earth that Adam forfeited when he wanted the glory that belongs only to God.

Acknowledging my spiritual poverty, mourning over it, and humbling myself before God brings me to the point of desperation (v.6) where I am reduced to a beggar hungering and thirsting for righteousness I do not have and cannot attain. It must be given, but thankfully is promised for those who want it.

Acknowledging my spiritual poverty, mourning over it, humbling myself before God, and hungering for and being filled with His righteousness will overwhelm me with the mercy God has given, and in turn will cause me to be merciful to others (v.7). Those who receive mercy ought to show mercy and the more we give, the more we get!

Acknowledging my spiritual poverty, mourning over it, humbling myself before God, hungering for and being filled with His righteousness, then seeing and sharing mercy will purify my heart (v.8). Those who are pure in heart can walk in fellowship with a Holy God.

Acknowledging my spiritual poverty, mourning over it, humbling myself before God, hungering for and being filled with His righteousness, seeing and sharing mercy so that my heart is pure, and when these qualities are present, I will be a peacemaker, resembling my Heavenly Father (v.9). The world will see the difference.

But, it is that difference which will rub people the wrong way (v.10-12). As salt stings and light exposes, not all will be happy about our pursuit of holiness. Those who are climbing to a higher level of living are exposed to the attacks of those who refuse to do so.

Our disposition is determined by our attitude and OUR DISPOSITION IS DEMONSTRATED BY OUR ACTION (Matt.5:17-48). The proper attitude leads to the proper altitude. What we are to be will shape the way we are to behave.

On a plane, there are many gauges—all important if you want to fly in the sky, rather than crash to the ground. One of those is the attitude indicator. It shows the relationship of the plane’s wings to the horizon. The plane’s attitude is important if it is to climb in altitude. If we want life on the highest level we must adjust our attitude. If we do, it will be evident in our higher standard of living.

Jesus gets to the heart of the matter in these verses. He speaks of the Mosaic precepts, which those Jews, and especially the religious leaders, listening that day would all say are important. Indeed, they are, and Jesus did not set them aside (v.17-20). Neither did He lessen them, but rather lifted them to the highest level in a series of principles that govern God’s kingdom where He states, “You have heard…but I tell you…” and shows how being religious through trying to keep an external code is insufficient to make one acceptable to God. Instead, we must be righteous in heart by an internal change that only grace can produce.

My righteousness must exceed that of the ultra-religious scribes and Pharisees if I am to be elevated to the kingdom of Heaven (v.20). It goes beyond the fruit of sinful conduct to the root of it. I not only restrain from committing murder, but I repent of the hate that is the seed from which such malice springs (v.21-26). I refuse to commit adultery physically, and reject the lust mentally that fuels the immorality (v.27-30). In my marriage, my object is not to look for a loophole to get out, but for a way to remain faithful (v.31-32). My word is my bond, because truth permeates my heart (v.33-37). Instead of retaliation, I practice generosity (v.38-42). I love—and not only the loveable, but those who are spiteful (v.43-47). Thus, I show the Spirit of God (v.48). This is the disposition that by His help I am climbing toward.

Life on the highest level goes from our disposition to THE RIGHT DEVOTION.

The sixth chapter of Matthew shows the supreme passion that should guide us as we press on the upward way. We are driven to seek the glory of God and not our own. This is our holy passion. It is what we are aiming for in this highest level of life.

Jesus concludes His model prayer that expresses this passion like this, “”For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matt.6:13b). Amen, indeed! It is all about the glory of God. This passage contrasts the worldly mindset of the hypocrite who does good things for the wrong reason—to gain man’s applause rather than God’s approval.

We are devoted to God’s glory in our SHARING (6:1-4).

When we give, it isn’t about the amount of what is given, but the attitude in what is given. The assumption is that we will give. Jesus says, “whenever you give to the poor,” not “if ever you give.” This is about motivation and not just money. Our sharing is not for show. It is done in secret for the father’s delight, and then those receiving the benefit aren’t focused on the human channel, but on the great Giver who blessed them. We are taking the currency of earth and investing in eternity, where God assures us it will pay dividends.

We are devoted to God’s glory in our SUPPLICATION (6:5-14).

Our supplications are not prayers expressed to awe the hearts of men with their eloquence, but to stir the heart of God with their devotion. Our prayers are directed toward His glory. Jesus gave us a model in which He began with a focus on God’s nature before we get to our needs. Such praying is about relationship, “Our Father in heaven.” It is about reverence, “Your name is honored as holy.” It conveys resignation, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Then come the requests. We request provision, “Give us today our daily bread.” We request pardon, “And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” We request protection, “And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Such praying is in submission to God’s kingdom purposes, experiences His kingdom power and the end is His kingdom praises.

We are devoted to God’s glory in our SACRIFICE (6:16-18).

When we give up something for God—in this case food—we gain something from God—His favor. That is, if we do not do so for our own honor, but for His, we will be rewarded in heaven. You have to give up, to go up. But, if you sacrifice to show out on earth, then you will lose out in eternity.

We are devoted to God’s glory in our SERVICE (6:19-24).

This extensive passage, chock-full of truth has at its climax this text, “No man can be a slave of two masters, since he will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.” (6:24)

This is the choice—we can be devoted to the material things of this world below, or to the spiritual things of the world above. What do we long for (v.19-21); what do we look for (v.22-23); what do we live for (v.24)?

We are devoted to God’s glory in our SUPPORT (6:25-34).

Where does our trust reside? Are we relying on what we can do and get or on what God can do and give? Worrying does not glorify God. It is a way to dishonor Him instead. We say to the world, “You can’t trust Him. He will let you down.” Where is the indispensable quality of faith in that? If God feeds fowls of the air and clothes flowers in the field, He will support His children with the essentials of life. We are more valuable than fowls or flowers!

Life on the highest level is a matter of disposition and devotion, but something else: THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

The seventh chapter of Matthew has a series of choices set before us. We can choose the path of climbing to life on the highest level or we can choose to walk in the shadowlands of the world—but, we can’t do both. This is a matter of priorities. In the end, what really matters?

WE CAN CHOOSE CONDEMNATION OR COMPASSION (7:1-6).
We are often quick to condemn the sin in others that we tolerate in ourselves. Compassion may lead me to extract a speck from my brother’s eye, but I will do more harm than good if I try such a delicate procedure with a log sticking out of my eye! There are times that judgments have to be rendered and discernment is needful (v.6). But, we will be alert to this, if our hearts are clean. More time examining our own heart will lead to less time looking for the flaws in others.

WE CAN CHOOSE FAITH OR FEAR (7:7-11).

You can trust by your prayers or you can be terrorized by your problems. Faith continues to believe what it cannot see—to go on asking, seeking, and knocking until the answer comes. Fear shuts us down, silences our voice and supplants our asking with anxiety.

WE CAN CHOOSE SELFISHNESS OR SERVICE (7:12).

The golden rule exhorts us to actively choose to treat others in the way that we would want to be treated. Sometimes this is understood in a negative sense—don’t treat others in a way that you wouldn’t want to be treated. Fair enough—there is a grain of truth to that. But, the real stress is on being aggressive to do for others in a positive manner instead of being consumed with self-interest.

WE CAN CHOOSE DIFFICULTY OR DESTRUCTION (7:13-14).

There is a narrow gate and a wide one; a difficult way and an easy one; a road that is isolated and one that is crowded; there is a destination of deliverance and one of destruction. The important thing about a road is that it takes you the right direction. An interstate highway that takes you away from the place you are trying to reach is of no use. The road you want might be a winding, rocky one that is steep, but if it takes you where you want to be, then that is the road you want.

WE CAN CHOOSE FACTS OR FABLES (7:15-20).

Religious charlatans selling error are everywhere. They attract quite a following. Their food is palatable—but it is poison! What we want is to pick fruit from a good tree—to hear the truth rooted in Scripture. How can we know? Their deeds and doctrine are connected. Look at what they do to help gauge what they say.

WE CAN CHOOSE SPEECHES OR SUBMISSION (7:21-23)

The sad reality is that there are both believers and make-believers. There are those who profess much, but possess nothing. They claim to be a Christian, but their conduct is contrary to it. The child of God has not only said that Jesus is Lord, but has shown that He is by his or her submission to Him.

WE CAN CHOOSE FAITH OR FOLLY (7:24-27)

The wise man has chosen to ground his faith on the Rock of Ages. His life will withstand the storm, his faith stays firm though buffeted, for his foundation is stable. The fool has chosen to rest his life on the sands of the world. He cannot stand in the storm and collapses in ruin—a pile of rubble.

What is our response to this greatest sermon ever preached?

Surely, it is akin to that of Jesus’ original audience, “When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like the scribes.’ (Matt.7:28-29)

This is the high calling of God. It is real life—life on the highest level.

“I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.’

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till rest I've found,
‘Lord, lead me on to higher ground.’

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan's tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” (Johnson Oatman, Jr.)