The Bridge

What is the most famous bridge in the world?

A website, 10MostToday.com, listed the "10 Most Famous Bridges In The World."   Here are the top five in their list (in reverse order):

5. Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy – This “old bridge” is a medieval stone arch bridge, famous for still having shops built along it as was once common.  It is the only bridge in Florence to survive the second world war.

4. Brooklyn Bridge, New York, United States – Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States.  It connects Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River.  It has a main span of 1,595.5 feet which made it longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903.  The bridge spans a total of 5,989 feet.

3. Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia – This steel-through-arch bridge crosses Sydney Harbour.  The bridge carries roads for vehicles and railroads as well as bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the North Shore and the central business district of the city.  The bridge is nicknamed “The Coathanger” by the local residents because of its arch-based design.

2. Tower Bridge, London, England – Built from 1886 till 1894, this symbol of London spans the River Thames in London.  It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name.

1. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United states – This world famous symbol of the West Coast of the United States and the most popular attraction of San Francisco has a main span of 4,199 feet, which makes it around the 11th longest span in the world.  The bridge opened in 1937.

Yet there is a much more important "bridge" by which we all should want to travel...

Because of our sins, we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  The gulf between us and God is too great for us to span through our own efforts (Romans 3:10-12).

But, Richard Mansel reminds us: "By God’s grace through our faith, we have a solution (Ephesians 2:8-9).  The Father sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:6) and we have a way back to God that we would never have on our own... Christ’s cross becomes the bridge that provides access to God."

Without that Bridge, we could never have access to God, salvation from sin, and eternal life!

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk "on the Bridge," by seeking to follow His will (1 John 1:7).

Won't YOU access the Bridge that leads to God and eternal life through your trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* Sources: "10 Most Famous Bridges In The World" http://10mosttoday.com/10-most-famous-bridges-in-the-world/ and "Jesus, the Blood, and the Bridge" by Richard Mansel in Forthright Magazine (2/9/16) at www.forthright.net

David A. Sargent, Minister