The Bible says that if we say we are without sin, we are fooling ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8, Romans 3:10, James 3:2). There have been times in my life that I needed great grace and even now, today, I am an imperfect man. I have sinned – I am a sinner – no doubt about it.
This grace I need has a name – and his name is Jesus. Jesus is the bridge that connects us, even though we are sinners, to our Father God. It took two pieces of wood and three nails to build this bridge. It’s a holy bridge – one of supreme sacrifice for our sins.
I need Jesus – and I need His Grace on a daily basis. I remember a time when I thought I had sinned so badly that even Jesus had left me. But in my darkest hours, He assured me that He would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). I am His, and He is mine – and nothing will ever change that fact.
Yet, I am mystified that there are other Christians who want to blow up this bridge of forgiveness and reconciliation to our Father – a bridge that they themselves or maybe someone very close to them may need to cross over sometime in their lives.
There are people who want to condemn others who have sinned, and think themselves better off because their particular sin is not the one they are condemning. Most often, when the perspective changes to yourself or others you love, the bridge will be in tact.
As soon as pride lifts its head, especially in the area of who and what the Blood of Jesus will or will not cover, you can be sure that Grace will much more abound (Romans 5:20).
Don’t blow up a bridge that you, yourself, or your loved one may need to cross at some point in their lives. Others have crossed over this bridge, and it is on the road to their salvation.
If we need one thing in the End Times, it’s Grace and Love. And we ALL need the Bridge by which we can be forgiven – Jesus.
Love,
The Read & Share DVD Bible videos are exenelclt. My grandchildren from age 4-11 will sit, enthralled. The 30 minute format is perfect for the younger ones. The Bible stories are well representated and I would highly recommend these to anyone who wants to increase their children’s Biblical knowledge. We watch them over and over at our house.
I really liked the point about electricity…you are so right….it has always been there only it had to be discovered. God has given us the bridge…Christ Jesus…it is up to us to do with that as we may, but I can say from personal experience…praying others into the kingdom is possible..even if they have turned their heads..for many many years.The bridge is still there and it is precisely why we need to pray….God is pleased when we pray for them..and be persistent…The sad thing is people who try to tear down that bridge any way they can..I feel sorry for them because it could be someone they love dearly which they have tossed a stumbling block in their path..so keep on praying…and leave the results to God..and ask for prayer for them as well…I was 12 years old when someone who had looked at our house that was for sale prayed for me each day since.. until I came to know Christ..that was when I was 21 years old. The day I came across her in my path she told me the story…and it just blessed me so much to think a prospective buyer on a house my folks owned when I was 12 would be concerned about my salvation…Our God is totally awesome…Myrtle (akaMyMy)
TO SIN IS TO KNOW GOOD AND DO IT NOT.IGNORANCE OF GOOD IS EXCUSABLE,BUT FOR THOSE OF US THAT THAT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE AND STILL CHOOSE TO SIN,THEN WE REAP THAT WHICH WE SOW…IT DOES NOT TURN OUT WELL WHEN WE DO…OBEY THE WILL OF GOD,OBEY YOUR GODLY PARENTS AND THE REWARDS WILL BE GREATER THAN ANY SACRIFICES FOR SIN….LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS,BETTER STILL” TO HAVE THEM WASHED AWAY BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS”AND GO AND SIN NO MORE…..IT IS GOD’S GRACE THAT BROKE THE CURSE THAT SATAN HAD ON HUMANITY,BY THE GIFT OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST..THE SECOND ADAM,EVE WAS REPLACED BY THE BRIDE OF CHRIST –THE CHURCH..AND WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE NEW CREATED BEINGS NOW..IN THE WORLD,BUT NOT OF IT….THERE ARE TWO WORLDS…THE CARNAL[ADAM AND EVE]—-THEN THE SPIRITUAL[JESUS AND BELIEVERS]….WE HAVE MORE TO ANSWER FOR SPIRITUALLY,,,THAN ALL THOSE BEFORE JESUS CAME TO US WITH THE GOSPEL….ALL OF US ARE LIVING TODAY BECAUSE OF SPIRITUAL REVELATIONS GIVEN TO US FROM GOD TO HUMANITY… EVEN ALL THE ELECTRIC INVENTIONS CAME FROM GOD WHO CREATED ELECTRICITY BEFORE MAN…HE MADE THE FIRST LIGHTING BOLT……………
Thank-you Pastor Jim.
Your words are refreshingly true.
Since God knows all things, I am sure that when we came to him and trusted his Son for our Salvation. He also knew our shortcomings, our failures and our sins. Only one was perfect. The Christ. The blood that Jesus shed never lost its power. When we are saved, it does not mean we will never fall again. But what it does mean is that the Blood that Jesus shed for you and me. It never, ever loses it’s power.
Hi Pastor Jim,
I wanted to point out how good JESUS is, between Matthew 8: 31 – 32 the demons begged him to send them into the hogs because it was not their apointed time yet, and he did so by saying “begone”. It amazes me that he even does as evil ask out of fear of him. So how far will he go for us, whom he loves so much?
Amen !!! what a point….thanks for posting that..:)
JIM,AFTER READING THIS;MY COMMENT IS THAT FOR EVERY BRIDGE,THERE IS A ROAD.THIS ROAD MAY TAKE US TO A DESTINATION WHICH IS THE WILL OF GOD OR OUR OWN WILL.GOD WILL GIVE US CONFIRMATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AS TO THE ROAD WE ARE ON AND IF IT’S OUR WILL OR HIS WILL THAT WE ARE HEADED TO.WE DO OUR BEST WHEN WE ARE ONE WITH GOD AND HE BUILDS THE BRIDGE FOR US.HE WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY FOR US WHEN THERE SEEMS NO WAY.WE ARE GROWING OUT OF SIN,AS CHRISTIANS…HIS GRACE,LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IS NOT PERMISSION TO SIN,BUT TIME ENOUGH TO REPENT FROM IT AND CHANGE OUR WAYS…OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE…OUR CHILDREN ARE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD…WE SHOW THEM LOVE,GRACE AND FORGIVENESS WHEN THEY DO WRONG…BUT WE EXPECT THEM TO KEEP IMPROVING..
Dear Jim, you are still the most amazing, loving and precious soul. It’s not about the sin. The enemy traps us all from time to time. You, me, all of us, we are the SAME. God’s children. I am proud that you have the courage to fight a good fight, you remind me of the Apostle Paul. You are still such a blessing. I know one day you will hear HIM, who is Lord and Judge of all say. “Well Done” my child you have been faithful over a few things and I will make you ruler over many. It is Your Father, who loves you and fashions you after his beautiful image. The late Dottie Rambo, was a dear friend of mine, and I feel her in my spirit sending you love and healing as only she and Jesus can do. Keep on Keeping on . . . my brother… In the love and service of Jesus Christ. Rheda
Jesus is the Bridge
Dear Sir,
There are many, many stories, messages, and analogies in our Holy bible that help us find Jesus, and yours is another beautiful one.
I was thinking about that narrow pathway to heaven, being like a bridge, full of moving bodies, the foot path that wont collapse, although many people do wander of course all the time and it takes the calling of that quiet good shepherd voice to guide on course to salvation. That old rugged cross like the hymn says, your perfect bridge analogy sir, that connects heaven and earth; the old rugged pathway, where it can be a bumpy journey at times, although Jesus effortlessly glides over them like a deer jumping over a fence so delicately in silence.
I believe the daylight comes and people look for that bridge, the bridge of Jesus and like you say sir, pride issues, unrepentent sin in us all causes a mist, a fog to hide that foot bridge to heaven. The haughty so high and proud with their head in the clouds cannot see the bridge, where humility blows the mist away, and even the arrogant could then see the bridge and gulp at the beauty of Jesus. The bridge got harder to see from Genesis and the fall of man, and became crystal clear on Calvery as Jesus hung on the cross on the bridge between to criminals. Still through faith that cross is still perfectly clear to find. Jesus is availbale to all!
Thank you sir for your words of Jesus.
God bless,
Stephen
Stoke-on-Trent,
UK
You preach it Rev. Jim! If we all lived by the the lessons our Savior taught us; love thy neighbor as thyself, judge not lest you be judged, he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone, what a wonderful world it would be! I admire both you and your son Jay for your honest and caring ministries. Bless you both! I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
“We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.”
~Madeleine L’Engle
Amen.