Into Thin Air

I recently read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Jon, a journalist, joined one of the teams on the 1996 tragic expedition of Mt Everest where eight fellow climbers died.

To be honest, the book topic did not peak my interest. I find it hard to relate to the drive that causes men and women to risk their lives for a moment that will not make any significant difference. My mom, however, who has great taste in literature, convinced me I wouldn't be able to put it down.

The story gripped and haunted me. At least three of the eight who died on May 10, 1996 were guides. They knew what it took to survive. They knew the caution signs. They used the right equipment.

The main dangers each climber faced, besides the obvious one of falling, were

1. Ice in their oxygen tubes or running out of oxygen. They were acclimated enough that they could breath even in the thin air, but the sublimental oxygen increased their chances of not succumbing to several deadly altitude sicknesses and enabled them to have clearer reasoning.
2. Not keeping warm enough. The solutions (besides warm clothing/equipment) were to keep moving, even at times of rest, and to drink hot tea.

I don't mean this to be a book review, so, naturally, I see parallels for the Christian life.

One of my father's favourite quotes (though I don't know the source) is "Few men run well to the end."

The apostle Paul said something similar to the church in Galatia: "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?" (Galatians 5:7)

It may sound metaphorically contradictory to combine climbing and running, unless you understand that the climb to the top of Mt Everest is a race against time, limited oxygen, elements, and physical limitations.

We, as Christians, should never relax our guard against the flesh. We need the oxygen of conversation with God through His Word and prayer.

1. If sin blocks the flow of life from Him to us, we may very likely wander off a spiritual cliff or discourage others in their search for God.
2. If we do not keep busy serving Him, our abilities may freeze up, becoming limited; pride or other sins may cut off our dependence on God to use our gifts, and we may lose our privilege to serve in an area. Or if we refuse to give or receive the warmth of fellowship, we will become cold, weak, and ineffectual.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

And what about non-Christians? What is their part in the climb of faith? Scripture makes it clear that without the Holy Spirit of God they are, as we were, "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). They have not even made it to Base Camp.

For those of us born again by the Spirit, let's not become confident in ourselves, our talents, our intellects, or our energies. We need to remind each other from where our righteousness comes: "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

Paul said: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Far from discouraging us, this should cause each of us to cling more tightly to the hand of our Father, to lean closer to hear the beat of His heart.

Jesus warned us: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).

Let's encourage one another in our walks to look to Jesus and to do good, to love and to fellowship.

Let's remember our capacity for sin and our Source of righteousness. We need to believe as Paul did: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst (1Timothy 1:15).

If we seek God, He promises we will always find Him. If we climb in our own strength, we will always fall. This world is stronger than we are, but our God is stronger than all.