John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan , also known as Pearl
Bridge , is the longest suspension bridge in the world to date. The bridge
crosses the Akashi Strait ; it links Maiko in Kobe and Iwaya on Awaji Island as
part of the Honshu--Shikoku Highway . As measured by the length of its center
span (6,532 ft), the bridge is substantially longer than the second longest
suspension bridge, the Eastern Bridge (5,328 ft) of the Danish Great Belt Fixed
Link. The total length of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is 12,831 ft. It was planned
to be one of three Honshu--Shikoku connecting bridges, annexing two borders of
the Inland Sea .
Before the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge was built, ferries
carried passengers across the Akashi Strait . This dangerous waterway often
experiences severe storms, and in 1955, two ferries sank in the strait during a
storm, killing 168 children. The ensuing shock and public outrage convinced the
Japanese government to draw up plans for a suspension bridge to cross the
strait. Construction on the bridge began in May 1988, and the bridge was opened
with six lanes of traffic on April 5, 1998.
The bridge has three spans: the central span and two
other sections each 3,150 ft (960 meters). It was designed on a two-hinged
stiffening girder system, allowing it to withstand 178 mph winds, earthquakes
measuring up to 8.5 on the Richter scale, and harsh sea currents. The bridge
also contains pendulums that are designed to dampen forces on it. The two main
supporting towers are 978 ft (298 mts) above sea level.*
Yet, there is a GREATER BRIDGE that spans an even GREATER
CHASM...
Our sin has caused a GREAT SEPARATION from God: “Your
iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face
from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Many “bridges” have been built to try to span the
distance between sinful man and a holy God.
* Some have tried to reach God through good works. This
bridge is far too expensive! Although important, one cannot do enough good
works to EARN one’s way to heaven (Eph 2:8-10).
* Some have sought to bridge the gap to God by living
good, moral lives. This bridge just isn’t long enough. Being good isn’t good
enough, for even at our best, we still FALL SHORT (Rom 3:23).
The ONLY Bridge by which we can reach God is through His
Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No
one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus spanned the gulf
between man and God by dying on the cross for the sins of the world (1 John
2:2).
Dear Lord, thank You for being the bridge that we
need. Help us share the way to those that
come into our path today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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