About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ~~Luke 9: 28-31NIV)

Anyone who has ever studied Peter even remotely is not shocked at what happened next.  "Impetuous Pete," he might have been called.  Like most Galilean fishermen, he tended to speak and act with an attitude that oft-times got him into trouble. He also put his mouth in gear before he put the key into the ignition of his brain.  The incident here was no exception, but it proves the awesomeness of the experience.  He had followed Jesus up a mountain to pray and had the climb of a lifetime!
Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) ~~Luke 9: 32-33
No sooner had Peter said this, than Father God Himself said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!" ~~Matthew 17: 5 NIV  This is the last time we hear the voice of Father God in scripture.
 
Falling In
Today the Basilica of the Transfiguration, a magnificent work of architecture, artwork, historical remnants, gardens, and paths surrounded by an awesome panorama, sits atop Mt. Tabor, as a memorial to the events that took place in the above-mentioned scriptures. 
As I walked toward the church I experienced a sense of wonder at God's vista. Inside was no different. I made my way down a center aisle, now alone with the exception of one of my tour mates. We walked silent between wooden benches flanked by ornate columns and archways. I moved toward the central altar; it requires going down a set of stairs and once there I stared up at the curve of the apse where, on background of gold, a painting of the Transfiguration is found. 
Bright, shining as the sun stands Jesus, flanked by Moses and Peter on one side, Elijah, James, and John on the other.
After standing wordless (for who could speak under such a work of art?), I turned to head back up the steps, down the long center aisle, and out the door, when my eye caught a vision coming from the front doorway.  It was only the brightness of the sun forcing its way through the half-open doorway, but to me it was a reminder of who God is and who I desire Him to be in me. 
I raised my camera slowly, as though to be quick would stop the moment, snapped the shot and prayed it would come out as I had seen it.
It did, and when I look at it now I think about myself and about Barak and Deborah and Peter and how I am so like them all.  Quick to put God second...quick to doubt...quick to fear...quick to say the wrong things, though I suppose it's easy to try to make something natural out of what is Supernatural. 
But neither story of Mt. Tabor, whether confirmed or unconfirmed in terms of location, are of man.  They are solely of God, as everything in our lives should be.
 Like Israel, we all find ourselves "falling away" from a relationship with the One who has freed us. At the very least we will, from time to time, put that relationship on the backburner of our daily lives.  There's so much on our calendars.  Work, home, family, social obligations and, heaven help us, even the commitments we've made to our churches and church families. 
I distinctly remember the evening I was driving to my church for a commitment I'd worked hard on for 2-1/2 years.  In the quiet of my car, I heard God's still, small voice whisper, "You never talk to me anymore...."
 "Talk to you?" I retorted aloud.  "Talk to you?  I'm doing all this work for you!"
It was no sooner out of my mouth but what I clamped my hand over my lips and said, "Oh, dear Father...I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry...."
That evening, I "resigned" from my position to the commitment and, for the next 2-1/2 years, did nothing by way of such obligations but to spend time on His holy mountain!
Like Barak, I had to learn to find trust and relationship with God and climb to a height I would have never imagined myself on top of until it was time to run down the hill in victory, ready to rout the enemy.
Like Peter, my desire is to follow the Lord in prayer, to be right where He is, no matter where the location, because really, does it matter if the transfiguration took place on Mt. Tabor or Mt. Hermon? Isn't it the point that going to the heights in prayer with God results in shedding light to God's almighty power, transforming power from His Spirit to our bodies, enabling us to fight the battles ahead, whether those of life or of death?

And this is part of what I learned when I fell into the Bible.

Eva Marie Everson is the author of Shadow of Dreams & Summon the Shadows.  She is an award-winning national speaker.  She can be contacted at Bridegroomsbride@aol.com