Are you building a fence or a bridge?

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.

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by- side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I 'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8- foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge ... a bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched..

He said to the older brother: "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.

"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."

Are you building a fence or a bridge? Let’s us be like Jesus and be a bridge.

Dear Lord, help our focus be on building a bridge to those around us to reach out to them rather than a fence to keep them away. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Jesus is our bridge

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. 

Are we truly alive or are we dead?

Ephesians 5:14 (ESV)

For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

    and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

The advancements of technology are amazing. What was once impossible is now possible. Like the invention of suspension bridges that can withstand more weight than conventional bridges.

But then again, not everything that is built lasts. Take, for example, one of the first suspension bridges ever built in America. It was built in 1856 over the Montmorency Falls near Quebec City. It was the pride of Canada. A beauty in conception!

5 days later it collapsed, taking its bridge keeper, his wife and a bridge visitor for the ride of their lives. The engineer didn't fare that well either, when he was indicted for criminal negligence.

A more recent bridge, Bridge 9340, that spans the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, used to carry 140,000 vehicles daily, making it the fifth busiest bridge in Minnesota. On August 1, 2007, during the worst possible time of the day, rush hour, it collapsed, killing thirteen people and injuring 145 others. The cause? A design flaw!

We could name numerous other disasters of technical wonders that never lasted long enough to fulfill their intended uses. One thing they had all in common: they were all flawed with flaws indiscernible to the eye!

One day we, too, may realize that we are left wanting. In fact the New Testament urges us to "wake up!" as more often than not we forget our true purpose in life.

As Christians, our reputation is that we are truly alive. Didn't Jesus say "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)? We are the ones who are called "alive" and who are to bring that "full" life to others. However are we truly "alive"?

How many times don't we sing worship songs with frowns permanently etched into our faces, with our thoughts geared towards the mundane? How often don't we go to church wishing it was over before it even starts, or perhaps we don't attend at all? How many times are we eager to open God's Word to hear directly from the One who is called the Lover of our soul? How frequently do we communicate with the One we call Lord and Saviour? Do we share that jubilant life with those we call "our friends"?

Are we truly alive or are we dead? Who wants to dream their life away? Maybe it is time to wake up!

The apostle Paul urges us to: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Eph 5:14 NIV)

The only way we can truly experience real living is if we wake up from our stupor and let Jesus be the One who shines through us. He is the One who gives true purpose in our lives.

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Eph 5:15-16 NIV)

We, too, are wonderfully made, but we, too, can become flawed if we don't let Jesus change us from zombies into creatures of light. We, too, can crumble under the weight of those who trust us, unless we let Jesus be our energy.

We were meant to be alive, not to crumble into everlasting sleep!

Dear Lord, help us instead of discouraging others to encourage them to shine! May we become fully alive according to Your purpose. May we soar above the clouds so that others will see that we are a follower of You. In Jesus' name. Amen.