We are living in a time of uncertainties where various opinions compete for our attention. Adding social media to the mix allowed many a platform for their views. While all of these things are significantly changing on a continual basis, we must find an anchor strong enough in carrying our stability through all of them. Otherwise, we will see ourselves pulled in every direction and left confused. Let’s find our balance, and in doing so, we gain the ability to navigate confidently through these opinions. G.K. Chesterton stated, “There are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands.”
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During Jesus’ time, a great divide stood between God and man. He declared Himself as the only Bridge to God: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV). At the cross, God confirmed Jesus as the Bridge to Him: But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 ESV). Now, it’s our turn to ensure these two things are relayed clearly to many people up in arms against one another in holding on tightly with their sentiments. But as for me, my opinion is squared firmly with God’s Word and its principles.
Following the example of Jesus in bridging bridges is a top priority. He came with a specific mandate of building bridges between God and men. Thus, my role is keeping the bridge clear of obstacles for any individual I lead to Jesus. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman, He first created a bridge of communication when no one else dared because of the prevailing culture and resulted in the salvation of a whole community. How do we build bridges with others? Start by communicating God’s message of hope and love. It is by attracting them to see what Jesus did for humanity, and although there is a flipside of rejecting His offer, we focus instead on presenting eternity with God primarily. We never give up and give in because of rejection. We must expect these animosities and never surprised at them because Jesus forewarned us about them already.
Here’s a great example of another strategy of building bridges through prayer as shared by George Mueller, the great Victorian Christian and social reformer:
He tells a story of persistent prayer in his diary: In November 1844, I began to pray for the conversion of five individuals. I prayed every day without a single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land, on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be. Eighteen months elapsed before the first of the five was converted. I thanked God and prayed on for the others. Five years elapsed, and then the second was converted. I thanked God for the second, and prayed on for the other three. Day by day, I continued to pray for them, and six years passed before the third was converted. I thanked God for the three, and went on praying for the other two. These two remained unconverted. Thirty-six years later he wrote that the other two, sons of one of Mueller’s friends, were still not converted. He wrote, “But I hope in God, I pray on, and look for the answer. They are not converted yet, but they will be.” In 1897, fifty-two years after he began to pray daily, without interruption, for these two men, they were finally converted—but after he died![1]
One thing is clear, George Mueller didn’t give up because of his faith in God’s saving power. No matter what we see and hear around us, keeping the bridge open is a top priority without giving up like George Mueller. Like Noah of old, he preached for 120 years and warned everyone of the impending floods. We know the result of his preaching didn’t persuade people. That’s why, in leading people to the bridge of life that is Jesus; we let people make their decision for eternity. Our role is sharing like Noah and praying like George Mueller then let God be God.
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