The Best Bridge Ever Built

I have a friend who lived on a lonely island. Sally spent years trying to build a boat that would transport her from isolation and depression to love and security. She was a master boat-builder, but every time she completed a boat and set sail, a tsunami of circumstances snatched her creation and wrecked it at sea. The ocean near her island was littered with the bones of many valiant ships, yet she sat on the lonely shoreline with only a handful of tears for company.

She had a host of friends shouting at her from across the harbor. They all had advice for how to build a better boat. They told her about canvas and rigging and what type of wood to use. They offered plenty of constructive criticism on her rudder design, but while they had the best intentions, they couldn’t stop the tsunami’s from happening.

Some of them got tired of watching her build and ridiculed her instead. Others, faded away because her efforts exhausted them. But there was one friend she barely perceived on the opposite shore who called out to her in a calming voice, “I love you. I have not abandoned you. I am here. I will find a way to rescue you.”

There were times the fog was so thick she couldn’t see this friend. Sometimes the wind was howling to an extent that she couldn’t hear the friend either. In fact, she had never even seen his face, but she kept searching for his voice and his words. She wanted to believe he was there, and that he would find a way to get her off that stinking island. Unfortunately, for all her wishing and hoping, he never seemed to show up.

One sunny day Sally notices the water is rising on the island. Her latest ship is complete and ready to sail–and just in time! She jumps aboard the great “Lottery Jackpot” and unfurls the sails. A great gust of wind fills them, and she is propelled further out to sea than ever before. A flock of gulls swooshes over the bow and lands. They drop gold coins near her feet and then fly away. Sally cannot believe her good fortune. With blue skies and no clouds in sight she realizes that she is finally going to reach the other shore. No tsunamis! In fact, a great multitude of people have gathered to meet her there. She sees they have champagne and fireworks and her heart is filled with happiness when suddenly—she is propelled forward when the ship hits something hard. There is a loud groan. She leans over the rails to discover she has hit a coral reef. Worse, there is a giant hole in the side of the ship, and it is taking on water.

Sally cries out to her friends, “Help! Save me! Send a life raft.”

But they stare at her, perplexed by her predicament. Someone shouts, “Why don’t you grow wings and fly over here?” Another person whistles, “It can’t get much worse than this. You’re doomed.” While another shouts, “Hey, throw me some of those gold coins. I can use them since you’re going to die anyway.”

Sally gazes back at the island and wishes for a moment that she could go back. At least on the island she had food and water. At least on the island she had a modicum of hope.

Sally walks back to the stern and lays down. She knows it’s over now. But over the commotion she hears the voice of her friend. “I love you. I have not abandoned you. Do you believe me?”

Sally wants to answer but her weak voice can’t cry above the rushing water. She really wants to believe that he is there, but she can’t see him. When suddenly above the din and clamor she hears a deep voice proclaim, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench.” And then Sally believes with her heart that she can see him–even though her sight is failing–even though the ship sinks.

With her last breath she says, “I believe! Lord, help my unbelief!”

And then a hand reaches out and grabs her arms and pulls her out of the water. She is stunned to see she is standing on the most marvelous golden bridge. She looks up at the man who has rescued her and sees that he is just a plain guy. In fact, he’s not dressed very cool, nor does he even have trendy hair. Sally is so overwhelmed with emotion to discover he is real she says, “Dude! Thank you!” But nothing else will come out.

His smile is very kind. And he says, “I told you I would never leave you or forsake you. I’ve been building this bridge to get to you for years. You just couldn’t see it.”

Sally stutters a bit, spitting water out of her mouth and taking deep breaths. She is still reeling from not being sucked into the vortex the sinking ship created. “Why not?”

“You needed faith. The only people who can use this bridge have faith in me.”

Sally takes one of his nail-pierced hands and squeezes it. “Thank you for saving me, Jesus.”

Faith is like a bridge. Bridges are built. They don’t just happen. 

Bridges serve an important purpose. They help us to get from point A to point B. 

Sometimes they are modern marvels; other times they are a spattering of stones over a trickling creek. If the bridge is not adequate, we fall–often to our peril.

In times of war, the opposing army will first destroy local bridges to slow the opposition. 

For those who believe in Jesus, we have a bridge that can never be destroyed. That bridge is faith–and it is more precious than gold.