I’ve just returned from a stroll around the village on a sunny afternoon. Part of the route takes me round some fields and across a small footbridge. Until recently it was very wobbly, with rotten boards and a rickety handrail. Suffolk County Council (I think) have replaced the bridge with a sturdy new one.
We all encounter bridges in our daily lives. They may help us to make a “shortcut” to our destination, spanning rivers, railways or other roads. When I cycle from Elmsett to Felixstowe, my route takes me through the centre of Ipswich, and adds on several miles to my journey – attempting the Orwell bridge on a bicycle is not my idea of fun!
Bridges may help us to keep in touch with people on both sides of the divide. They may be for pedestrians alone, or to help farmers after a major road has been built through their farmland. Bridges may carry trains or even boats – memories of a canal holiday and navigating across an aqueduct was an interesting experience.
What about spiritual bridges?
Jesus’ death on the cross is one spiritual bridge. There is a great cartoon of the Cross laid across a great chasm of sin that separates us from God.
Bible study, Prayer, Worship and Fellowship are also footbridges to God. However just as that old footbridge that has needed to be repaired or replaced, so too, do we need to care for those “spiritual bridges”.
The boards for us to tread on as we cross might represent the bible study, the learning that is the foundation to our faith. It needs to be refreshed, revisited to make sure of a firm footing. The rickety handrail, might be represented by prayer that is “frail” or “weak” at risk of letting us down.
So next time you go out for a walk, think about your prayer life, your bible study and the time you spend worshipping God, and remember that Jesus is the firm foundation we can use to cross towards a better relationship with God, and that he is a firm and sturdy handrail helping us across that divide.