ROCKWALL/HEATH (November 10, 2013) For several months I walked my dog along a farm road across a creek that borders my neighborhood. It felt like we owned the road that should have had trucks and SUV’s whizzing down it. But barricades kept the road closed while construction crews replaced an old bridge with a better one.
I enjoyed seeing the new bridge take shape, until—finally—there it was, looking good-to-go. But the road remained closed weeks longer, waiting for guard rails and road stripes. Didn’t the road crews—missing for days at a time—know how many folks waited to have their road back?
Living on the town-side of the bridge, I could only sympathize with those on the country-side. They must be languishing over the finished yet inaccessible bridge, and feeling exasperated by their several-miles detour on a curvy, rutted road day after day.
Then, without fanfare, the barricades were suddenly gone; the road was open to traffic. But did people know? The road stayed so quiet. Maybe workers should’ve replaced the detour signs with a flashing announcement: BRIDGE OPEN.
Maybe Christians should do that too. We know the ‘bridge’ is open. But others haven’t heard the good news that Jesus is the way “through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:18; ESV).
So many people—including me at one time—believe that God accepts us based on our personal goodness, or our good works, which sounds reasonable. But we could never be good enough. The writer of Hebrews explained that if we had been able to keep God’s laws perfectly there would have been no reason for a new covenant, “much more excellent than the old” (Hebrews 8:6-7).
Trying to qualify ourselves for heaven by our goodness is about as fun as taking detours. We might do well enough most days. But then we hit those potholes that could send us flying off the road.
The apostle Paul wrote that God’s eternal purpose was accomplished through Jesus Christ, “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Ephesians 4:11-12; ESV).
The bridge is finished and open. Come and see.
By Blue Ribbon News special contributor Patti Richter of Heath, journalist who writes news and feature stories, book reviews and more for Christian publications.
By Blue Ribbon News special contributor Patti Richter of Heath. Patti is a journalist who writes news and feature stories, book reviews and more for Christian publications.
Read more by Patti Richter:
Does your faith travel?
Mother of the Graduate
The God who heals
Not forgetting the least of these
Beholding wonders
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