Being raised in Upper Michigan, I had frequent access to the Mackinac Bridge.  At five miles long, this steel suspension behemoth connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. 

Prior to 1957 when the bridge was completed, folks would pay the price of a ferry ticket and spend a couple hours of their precious time crossing the Straits of Mackinac. 

After the opening of this engineering marvel, though, people could easily hop from one peninsula to the other in a matter of minutes (in the convenience of their own cars no less)!

I love this bridge.  It’s a landmark I excitedly look forward to seeing every time I journey back to the U.P. to visit family and friends.  But, more than that even, this beautiful structure provides me with a sturdy connection that helps me get to my destination every time.

That’s the most simple definition of a bridge, isn’t it?  Something that connects or joins.

Ultimately, it’s what Jesus did for all of us as we were hopelessly stranded with an unfathomable gap between us and God.

Paying the ultimate price as He laid down His life for us, took the penalty for our sin upon Himself, and voluntarily bridged the gulf between us and God, Jesus provided the missing piece that ensures we can connect with God for the rest of our lives and beyond.

“…there is one God and one mediator {bridge} between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (I Timothy 2:5 NIV)

Without Jesus, we’d be stuck.  And, God’s gracious and glorious heart is that no one would ever be stuck.

“…God our Savior…wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:3-4 NIV)

And because that’s the case, we, as Christ-followers, are called to be mini-bridges  – making those eternal connections between God and people as we intentionally point others to Jesus.

In a world where folks are laser-focused on creating gaps and divides that keep people separated, let’s follow our Savior’s example and be those bridges that connect the hurting, lost, and isolated to God’s growing, eternal family.

In the words of author Paul David Tripp, “I think my job is to make the grace of an invisible God, visible, wherever I am.”

Until next time, Grace and Glory!