An old movie I recently watched featured a scene where the two protagonists were fleeing a group of villainous ne’er-do-wells. They reached a point in their flight when they encountered a rickety rope bridge stretching across a vast chasm. Of course, this was their only means of escape so they reluctantly began a perilous journey across.
It occurred to me that, too often, we look upon our faith journeys in a similar fashion. The Bible tells us that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing1. So, to those who are perishing (lacking faith) our journey of faith appears very similar to the rickety rope bridge in our cinematic example. If it does not inspire trust in them, why does it affect us differently? The answer is simple. Those who are perishing are unaware of that truth, whereas the understanding of our untenable existence without Christ drives those of us with understanding onto the bridge out of a sense of desperation. As in the cinematic example, each footfall builds faith. As we progress, we find that we are no longer looking down, but are rather looking forward and up. I imagine it was a similar experience for the Children of Israel as they crossed the Red Sea. Their first steps were hesitant, tentative, fearful; but the understanding of the certain death that awaited them if they did not cross spurred them onward.
Some of us are at different points in our journey. We may be reluctantly extending a single toe, unsure if God’s promises will support us; others are journeying resolutely, gaining both confidence and speed with each step; while still others among us are frozen mid-span, unwilling to go forward or back. For those who are hesitating or frozen in fear, I would remind you to focus not on the journey, the bridge, the seabed; but rather to focus on the destination. For us, that destination is a personal relationship with a loving Savior who knows us more intimately than anyone in this world and forgives and accepts us. You won’t know that experience if you do not keep moving. Jesus is calling… DON’T LOOK DOWN!
1 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
In a dry and thirsty land 