The Bridge

“Between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able.” (Luke 16:26)

Imagine you are driving along on a dark, stormy night.

Thick fog and blinding rain obscure every curve on the narrow, winding road, high above the jagged rocks and raging sea. Something catches your eye as the lightning flashes, and you stop your car and get out to investigate. The bridge has been washed out. And where pavement once lay, a bottomless chasm now vanishes into the night below.

You rush back to your car, pop open the trunk, and furiously tear apart the contents, searching for your emergency flares. You race 100 yards back up the road you just came down, and light two of the flares, ready to warn any unsuspecting traveler, of the imminent danger which lies unseen just ahead.

Soon a set of car lights pierce through the fog and are coming straight at you. As you frantically wave the flares high above your head and shout "stop!" The truck finally screeches to a halt on the wet pavement, just inches from your feet. The driver jumps out and screams at you, "What is your problem?" You immediately respond, "Sir, the storm washed the bridge out just ahead. Please, I implore you sir, go no further, or you will plunge to your death!"

The driver angrily responds, "You're crazy! That bridge is solid steel! A perfect example of man's finest engineering. Nothing could possibly ever destroy it. Now get out of my way you crazy fool, I have somewhere I have to be!"

But no matter how much you plead with him to stay with you in safety, he drives blindly on into the blackness of night, plunging to his certain death.

And such is the life and message of the follower of Jesus Christ.

Ours is a message of hope and salvation, in the face of imminent danger and eternal darkness. But to many, our message is unpopular. People don't want to be warned to go no further, that imminent danger and death lies just ahead if they continue on the same road they are currently on.

Even Jesus—the God of love and light—who came to save the world, was murdered, and nailed to a wooden cross like a common criminal for bringing His message of love, grace and salvation.

All men have sinned and need a savior.

Jesus is the Bridge.

You who reject Christ may hate the message and the messenger. 

But consider that we who stand on the road on a dark night, waving safety flares high above our heads, shouting out a warning, "Danger, Bridge out!" do so in love. Not in hate, and not in judgment.

To allow someone to drive blindly on, not warning them of the imminent danger ahead, is the opposite of love.

Jesus is the Bridge.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.