It’s hard to imagine living in Florida if there were no bridges. Water is everywhere. I cross a bridge that is about 2/3 of a mile long every day going to work and every week or so I cross a bridge that is over three miles long. There is even a restaurant here in Jacksonville that is called “Seven Bridges” for the seven major bridges in town that cross the St. Johns river. There are hundreds, if not thousands more bridges in our city that span tributaries, creeks, and other bodies of water.
The bridge have also been a popular illustration in Christian circles for years. You have the Gospel presentation that features Christ’s cross bridging the gap between us and God. You have the recent “Building Bridges” theology conference sponsored by Lifeway. And then, just google “bridge church” and you will find dozens of churches that have taken on the name.
Yes, the bridge is a wonderful and important part of our everyday lives for transportation and moving commerce, and it is serves as a great word picture for various spiritual truths, but it is fascinating that you will not find any references to bridges in the Bible.
John Piper explains:
The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible. There may be two reasons. One is that God doesn’t build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them.
Man, why didn’t I think of that? That will certainly preach.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
