By FAH
It was a pleasantly warm day and my wife and I were enjoying a rest on a promenade seat at Weston-Super-Mare. The new bridge between England and Wales had recently been opened for general use. Soon an aged man (he told us he was over ninety) came up with a shuffling gait, evidently glad to find a vacant seat.
After a few general remarks he ventured the opinion that the new bridge was one of the most useful additions to road transport in recent years. Personally he appreciated his being able to get across so easily to the beautiful town in which we were at the moment. His son had driven him over for the afternoon, and whilst the old gentleman rested, the younger folk were enjoying a walk along the front.
We discussed the new bridge and its advantages for some little while, and then looking at the old gentleman I said “I suppose you had no doubt about the bridge being able to carry you safely over?” “None at all,” he replied, “it’s a good, well-built bridge.”
Quite evidently he had faith in the bridge doing what it was constructed for. Then I quietly said – “Do you know anything which is able to carry us safely from earth to heaven?”
I was not prepared for his reaction to that simple question which was asked in sincere desire for his blessing. He rose to his feet remarking that he had never done any harm to anyone and what was more he did not believe in carrying his religion on his sleeve. He shuffled away and I could only pray that the old man had more solid ground under his feet than his words indicated.
As I spoke of that which could carry us safely from earth to heaven I had no thought whatever of good works nor yet of religion; it is remarkable how very few times the word “religion” is to be found in the Bible. On the other hand the Bible is full of references to the Lord Jesus Christ, He who said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14 v 6). He came from heaven to earth, and in infinite love went to the cross of Calvary, that by His death He might open the way to the blessings of heaven for all who would confess Him as Saviour and Lord. As the old man was prepared to trust himself to the bridge, believing that the work was good and reliable, so must we place our trust in Christ and His finished work. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation (it can be relied upon completely), that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1 v 15). “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3v18). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for thee is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4vv12). The hymn writer has put the truth into very simple language –
“There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of Heav’n, and let us in.”
It was not our aged friend’s skill or effort that provided the way over for him; he gladly availed himself of the finished work of others. Will you not avail yourself of the complete salvation which the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus has provided? If you pass from this world without the knowledge of Christ as Saviour (and there is no other) you will find the Lord’s words in Luke 16 to be true – “a great gulf fixed” – over which there is no bridge – no passing from one side to the other – either an eternity with Christ in glory, or the timeless despair of the lake of fire. Hear once more the precious words of the Saviour Himself –
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that
heareth My word, and believeth on Him that
sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but is passed
from death unto life.” John 5 v 24.