The Bridge

Scripture:
Romans 3:23-26 (NASB)

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Devotional:

Picture yourself walking along a field.  The landscape is sparse and mostly barren.  There are patches of lush green fields and flowers with plenty of food and drink.  There are other places that are barren and dry.  As you walk along you come to a cliff.  Several hundred feet across you see the most beautiful and bountiful land you have ever seen.  You cannot get across the chasm separating you.  It is too deep and too wide.  There is nothing you can do to build a bridge big enough to cross over.  You see several people working away trying to build bridges to cross.  Some people work together and seem to get a little closer.  However, none can make it across.  As you walk along the cliff’s edge a cloud or mist rises between the cliff’s edges.  You can no longer see to the other side.  You do know that the land over there is still there just as lush and beautiful.  You come to two bridges.  One bridge is made of stone.  It looks strong and sturdy, able to handle a lot of weight and people at once.  The other bridge is an old rope bridge that looks barely able to hold one person at a time.  You cannot see to the other side of either bridge.  Finally you notice someone at the entrance to the bridges.  He asks if you trust Him to choose the bridge for you.  You can see people walking down both bridges.  What do you do?

We have all sinned and fall short.  The chasm is the sin that separates us from God in heaven.  Once we leave this life we must cross one of the bridges.  The bridge we choose to cross is made by our choice in life.  The strong and sturdy bridge is a life without Christ and it will lead you only part of the way.  In the end you cannot make it across to the other side.  The rope bridge is the bridge Christ has built giving us access to heaven.  Our lives may seem rough and that we may not make it.  Christ’s bridge is complete and strong enough to hold everyone.  The stone bridge, or the bridge of this world, only goes part way before dumping you down the chasm.  Nothing you can do can complete that bridge.  Sin is the chasm.  Living a life without Christ places you on the stone bridge.  Faith in Jesus, that He is the Savior John 3:16, is the rope bridge to eternal life…