July 8, 2013
Daughters, live your lives as a testimony to God’s majesty and holiness… Pray for those who stand at the deep chasm and who seek the Way, the Truth and the Life.
When I was a child, in some crazy way, I developed an intense fear of bridges, especially narrow and high bridges. The source of the unreasonable fears seemed to be linked to dreams; the feelings continued into my adult years. I have to say that I never changed my destination because of these unwarranted concerns, but I must admit that I have been known to change the route, just to avoid some “scary” bridges or overpasses, and consequently have become lost, (but always found)! When I have no option but to travel on the bridge, I cannot deny that I am incredibly relieved to get to the other side. However, in recent years, my perception of bridges has changed.
I became a follower of Christ in my teen years, but did not begin to understand God’s grace and forgiveness until my early adult years when I was out of college. In fact, although my intellect had no problem in accepting Christ as the absolute truth…my emotions and feelings were obstacles to my total dependence on Him. Rather than read and study God’s precepts to look for answers, I circumvented His authority and assumed responsibility for my fate. I even devised my own punishment and reward system. I spent too many years trying to pay the cost for my mistakes and poor choices; my mistakes and shortcomings just kept piling up like unpaid credit card bills. I thought that I could certainly get some of the invoices paid off, but the bills just kept coming. The harder I worked, the greater the balance, not to mention the guilt piling on like interest charges!
I could see a beautiful destination in the distance and I desired to be there, but I seemed to be running in place…I had heard that the place was peaceful and safe but I had no idea how to get there. There was a deep, wide chasm separating me from this place and as I looked down, it was terrifying. It was the same feeling that I would have in my dream about the very high, old, rickety bridge.
My life changed when I began to read for myself and study the Bible, and when I joined an in-depth Bible study. As each precept was revealed, precept upon precept, I seemed to move closer and closer to the beautiful destination. I found myself not looking down anymore, not being afraid; I found myself feeling peaceful and safe…I remember the moment that my heart and soul understood that Christ had come to earth to die on the cross for me…that He came to pay my debt in full…completely…a debt that I could never pay…or satisfy…or even die for… the terrifying chasm was gone and I was in the beautiful place…the place with Christ.
I have since come to understand and to know that Jesus Christ is the Bridge to the other side…to the beautiful place where there is peace, safety, forgiveness, joy…for eternity. He bridges the way…over the impossible chasm…the chasm of futility as we try to work…to earn…to pay…an invoice that is completely impossible for us to pay. Through His life and death and resurrection, it is done! He came to pay in full the debt of our sinful nature, our sinful habits, our sinful thoughts and actions.
As I look at bridges now, I appreciate the architecture and the amazing purposes of these structures. I also notice the points which they connect….over great waters, chasms, valleys, and infrastructure. And then, I know in my heart and my soul that the terrifying chasm that loomed in my life, was bridged through Christ, to bring me to the beautiful place of relationship with God.
I know that there are millions of people like myself who desire to get to the beautiful place. Perhaps they are self-sufficient, or perhaps, they fear bridges, or perhaps, they fear God.
Please join me in praying for those who are seekers…who see a deep and wide chasm…People who desire to know God and have a relationship with Him and who have been aware of their shortcomings and their weaknesses… trying to pay their debt…trying to earn their way…over and over…and over, but to no avail…futility.
Pray for eyes and hearts to be opened to the love of Christ and to the truth of His life and death and resurrection…He alone, is the Bridge over the chasm to the beautiful place, the place of safety, and peace and forgiveness. Pray that these seekers lay down their fears…their self-sufficiency…
Daughters of Truth, may we be impassioned with the knowledge that these people are truly engraved on the heart of our God; may we be compelled to pray for them to seek and to find the Bridge…Jesus Christ who said:
… “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Abundant joy,
