Recently I've read several incredible books (which I list below) about what Lance Wallnau calls "The Seven Mountain Strategy." The concept originated with a vision God gave to both Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, and Loren Cunningham of Youth With a Mission. The vision involved righteous people assuming important positions--ascending to the tops of the mountains--of the seven aspects of culture: government, economy, education, family, religion, media, and arts/entertainment. The purpose of these ascensions would not be to elevate individual names, but to bring glory to God and His righteous ways. Putting these principles in the forefront will bring hope to individuals and draw more people to God.
Last night's speech by Sarah Palin, John McCain's vice presidential pick, did just that. Never mind the gender glass ceiling formerly cracked by people like Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton, Palin put righteousness on full display. Like all people God is choosing and will choose to promote to positions of prominence in these seven areas, Palin will be flawed and make some mistakes along the way. But if she stays close and seeks to please the One who put her there, allows godly principles to guide her decisions, and keeps pride in check, I don't think we've begun to see where all Palin will go.
This morning on one of the news networks, I heard an interview with someone God has elevated to the top of the sports/entertainment mountain--Stephen Baldwin. Coming from a family of liberal, ungodly people, earlier I heard someone ask if Stephen would vote republican or democrat. "Neither," Baldwin said. "I will vote for the one who loves Jesus."
That's the bottom line. That's the only line. Everything else is vanity, as Solomon once said (Ecclesiastes 1:2). This wise man of old went on to ask, "What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?" (1:3) The word "profit" here is the Hebrew word "yitron," and it means "to jut over,exceed, excel, remain, be left." Yitron are those fixed and unchanging values that can be found in life and serve as a basis for proper living. These values keep living long after we are gone.
What yitron marks your life? What is God calling you to do? Which mountain has He lead you to conquer?
When we look at our lives--and even last night's speech--with a bigger view in mind, we will see our work as God's assignment in our lives and each day an opportunity to leave behind those eternal, unchanging things that will outlive us. I'm excited to be living in this time and place. I'm excited to see what God is going to do. And I'm excited to do my part.
P.S. Here are a few of the wonderful books I have read about this topic and our parts in what's happening today. I recommend them highly:
Church Shift by Sunday Adelaja
Transformation by Ed Silvoso
The Seven Mountain Prophecy by Johnny Enlow
Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince