Are You a Bridge?

Are You a Bridge?

Have you ever thought that some of us are called to be bridges? “He gave some to be apostles and some prophets and teachers.” Eph. 4:11; but not all, perhaps, because “bridges” were needed!

How can we be bridges? A bridge means something, generally a life, laid down. The very simplest bridge, a plank thrown across a stream, was once part of a tree standing erect, sapping life from the earth and beautifying all the world around it. Now it is dead, but perhaps saves other lives; anyway, it helps to make them useful, and is content to push others on, unnoticed, un-thanked. “. . . do you seek great things for yourself, seek them not,” be just a bridge. It is so simple, try and put somebody else on the right track with God through Christ. When they get there, they will not thank you, will never look back probably at the bridge, but the great Architect will know and love and care.

You thought perhaps to be a “worker,” prominent in God’s service, but instead you are just the possibly forgotten bridge! Keep on believing, somebody knows, understands, and says, “thank you.” Day after day the bridge is trodden underfoot by many feet, hurrying and impatient, and feet tired and slow, but it is answering its purpose, it does its work all the same. “You are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”—“I am crucified with Christ,” and so it would be a contradiction to speak of feelings, feeling slighted, illtreated, overlooked or not given the rightful place. The feelings you have are feelings of compassion and love for the lost, and of desire for the building up of His Kingdom.

Even Jesus Himself was content to be a bridge, bridging the gulf between God and man, “tis enough for the disciple if he be as his Master.”

The humble-minded Barnabas also was a bridge. He died to his wealth and became a bridge for thousands.

You may not be able to go to Africa or China, and yet you may be a bridge by prayer, or by something laid down, and so serve His purpose to the uttermost parts of the earth. Be a plank for some needy soul in your home, or in your business by which he can cross over to God. Andrew was Simon Peter’s bridge to Christ, but Peter won thousands to Christ.

Yes, a bridge means death. Once the trees from which it was made were fresh and green, giving shade and shelter to many passers-by, and they said, “How pretty those trees are.” Nobody says that now. Once they were growing in grandeur and beauty and were noticed by all; nobody notices them now. The trains, traffic, and hurrying footsteps of thousands cross and recross it without a word of thanks for the bridge, which solves many of their difficulties and shortens their journey home; but rather, they grumble at its length and perhaps its want of beauty.

Will you “die,” i.e., be content to be ignored, trampled upon, to suffer unnoticed and un-thanked, to lose what once, perhaps, brought you popularity and praise, that others, gaining all you seem to lose, may go over you to where God wants them? It is a glorious privilege to be a bridge, but it means I must be crucified and die.

That wood began to die when it was cut down to be a bridge, and every step has worn away more from it. Is your life laid down at the feet of Him whose life was laid down for you, that He may dispose of it as He will, and make it a bridge that will serve His purpose best? He was content to be your bridge to God; will you not be a bridge for Him from this time onward?