“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter to me now,
because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And
I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like
to live – a long life; longevity has its place.
But I’m not concerned about that now.
I just want to do God’s will. And
He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain.
And I’ve looked over. And I’ve
seen the Promised Land. I may not get
there with you. But I want you to know
tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So, I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming
of the Lord”
Read (Deuteronomy 34: 1-4; John 15: 18-25; Matthew 16: 24-25)
The ‘I’ve Been To The Mountaintop’ speech was the last
one given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 3, 1968, at the Mason Temple
Church of God In Christ. He was
assassinated on the following day. This
speech was one of the most poignant ever given.
As I look back, and recall on this 31st observation of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, what stands out to me most was this: “I just want to do
God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up
to the mountain”.
God has a plan for all of us, but we must be willing to sell out and
follow Him. Just like Dr. King, the
journey will not be an easy one. We will
most likely be hated; despised; rejected by man. The Light of the Gospel always exposes the
darkest of sins. We must be ready for
all the opposition that we will face.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, laid down His life so that all could be
saved. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., laid
down his life for standing up for African American Civil Rights.
In this way we will have both valley and mountaintop experiences. We may not all be required to give up our
natural life, but we are called to stand for what the bible teaches, without
fear of man, or whatever may come our way.
Jesus said in Matthew 16: 24-25 “If any man will come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake
shall find it.”
As Jesus Christ, and Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., are you willing to be despised and rejected for the
truth? We have no way of knowing what trials we will face, but we are encouraged to endure till the end and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Afterwards we will receive a crown of righteousness. Praise God!
