God has shown us how He works through some of our favorite people.

Is it your sense that Joseph (Old Testament) asked his brothers to sell him as a slave into Egypt, because he had concocted a plan to rule the world from that ungodly place? No, but he did rule the world from that ungodly place. He also was in prison 13 years. He also suffered the agony of separation from all that was loved and known. He was a common slave, a vile servant accused of attempted rape!

But God! Remember when we used to say, But God! Now, the “God” part is in the back seat, and the youth of our day are told to give vent to the desires they have to rule and be famous and be successful and be important. This is flesh. Jesus calls to death on a cross. And resurrection when the death is certain. No flesh there! God raises His own in His time.

Do you picture Daniel as a man so given to power and authority in Babylon that he had himself castrated, also divided forever from his family, so that he could be second in command of the greatest Empire of all time, save Rome? No, but he was castrated. He was a servant of the Emperor, cut off from Israel his beloved, until the day he died. But who does not know Daniel among us?

Esther? Young Jewish girl who decides to be queen so she can influence Persia for God? Not. One of many captive Jews lined up to please the King, if possible, after he had his first wife deposed for disrespect.

And Nehemiah, you’ve got to look at Nehemiah! This man started out in powerful places, but when he first had a chance to go back and suffer hardship with the people of God, he split! Hardly a “mountain” man, Nehemiah. Why, all that influence you could have in Persia! Why come back to be a wall-building supervisor?

Because God’s men are committed to God’s people. The truly great among us have left all to follow Jesus. Career, income, power, position. They desire Jesus only. And they have Him.

Consider the great work of Jesus and Paul and other first century leaders, who came out from the “mountains” of their world and turned so many to righteousness, yea and even today are turning them. Emperors who became Christian in that day tried to step down from their power. Popes who believed in dominion theology tried to fill the vacuum that emperors left.

Things have not changed. Men who find Christ simply do not want power and riches any longer. Worldlings unsatisfied with Christ often fill their positions.

The Moravians, now, did take a secular position to have influence for Christ. You remember this story, I imagine. How they sold themselves into slavery so they could tell other slaves for Jesus? Not exactly mountain theology. More like theology of the pit. The valley. The dregs. We don’t know what happened to these brothers, but someday we shall. But some of those whose success stories we hear today, I say with sorrow, shall be told no more.

The seven-mountain prophecy can, I suppose, be taught in such a way that it is somewhat acceptable. Salt and light. Let your light shine. God will promote you, give you favor. But remember that persecution is promised as strongly as favor in the Word.

Many have turned this theory into an invitation to follow the flesh. In fact there are only two mountains that need to concern Christians: Calvary, from which we came, and Zion, to which we go. All else is a call to the carnal nature and will be exposed in great shame.

May God have mercy on those who are encouraging men and women who have just come out of this present evil world and were happy about it, to go back in and not only be a part of it, but be the god of it. The Gospel and the world do not mix. John still tells his people not to love the world, that all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life. So clear. Where is a similarly clear call to holiness and separation among us today?

We know that Islam and Rome operate this way. Infiltrate and take over. Be the strong man who rules. But let us who are of the day keep our eyes fixed on Jesus’ life and see if that is what He laid down for us as an example.