“Bridge Over Troubled Waters”

            As soon as you acquire a drag boat you are a racer. As soon as you receive Christ as your Savior you are a Christian. But, in both realms, you have to do something with what you have to become a sailor or a saint. And at times, it’s very difficult to do either very well.

            If you have a drag boat, but never take it to the races, or never take it out of the trailer, you’re really “not a racer.” And likewise, if you are a Christian, but never express your faith by commitment, faithfulness, example, perseverance, and good deeds, you’re really “not living as a Christian.” You must put your life where your heart is. You must walk the talk in the real world.

            It’s true, you’re converted (reconciled back to God) in the “twinkling of an eye” at the very moment of salvation, but becoming a saint takes a lifetime to complete your God-given task. Therefore, anchor yourself to God’s Word through reading, praying, meditating and fellowship, “The unfolding of your words give light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).

             Through thorough research, the Scriptures give us the standards of truth for a firm foundation, “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word” (Psalm 119:15-16).

            We must always be on guard (stay on board ship). “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

            Please don’t mistake God’s patience for His permanent absence. He’s coming back one day when you least expect it. It is of the utmost importance that all believers think with razor-sharp minds about all the truths of the gospel. Extraordinary times of testing of who you are in Christ require renewed commitment to be people of extraordinary insight and knowledge.

            Your data book from years of racing gives you detailed information as to how to prepare your boat and how to tune your engine. This is invaluable information if you want to run with the big dogs. The Bible also gives you valuable information so you can have a firm grip on your daily life as it allows the Word to get a firm grip on you too.

            “In this hurried and often confusing world, it is critical that we seek the Lord to gain a sense of His direction for our lives—and to learn how to get where He wants us to be. Thankfully, as believers, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.” (Charles Stanley)

Over the troubled waters of life, God’s grace is something we must earnestly seek and receive often. Grace enables us to cross the bridges of life’s doubt, difficulties, and disasters.

How do you trust God when you’re troubled? Without warning, a tidal wave of the enemy’s fury can crash down or surround you in the raging waters of life, sweeping everything you have out to sea. Sometimes fear, grief, or depression can drain your motivation and rob you of your joy in life. In God’s Word we’re given truths that become His way of guiding and securing us.

            When you need to make a change on your boat or motor to enhance its performance, you just do it without questioning. That surrender of trusting your gut feelings (or your computer) enables you to do what it takes to make your boat run quicker, faster and more consistent.

            The same is true in your spiritual life. At various times in your life, you must make the changes that will alter the way you go about your life of faith. If you don’t make these mid-course corrections, you may find yourself aimlessly drifting down the river. Remember, it’s easy to drift because drifting doesn’t take any effort on your part. It just happens when life gets stuck in neutral.

            Neutral can occur after you have crossed over a bridge and feel its okay to coast a little. Remember, “Coasting can cool off the contemporaneous Christian.” Think of your boat out on the holding rope? You’re just kind of lazily floating on the water. You could even fall asleep … if they didn’t fire up any boats for a while. Now, if you relax and let go of the rope, you’d simply drift away … and if you drift too far, you may drift out of your lane.

            Unless you stay alert, you may have to pay the consequences. Ignoring road signs can be hazardous to your health. If a bridge is washed out and you’re not paying close attention, you may drive over a cliff into the raging waters of an unconcerned river.

            Driving a drag boat at over 200 mph is similar to crossing a bridge. You want to get from one end to the other safely and as quickly as possible. Between the starting line and the finish line are the waters of difficulty. To cross these waters, you need a smooth run (that bridges the gap) to safely cross over to the finish line.

            In order to bridge the troubled waters of life, and there will be troubles for all of us, you’ll need God’s divine power as your cornerstone. I learned (several years ago from my favorite teacher) that “Without His power ... your effort is meaningless. Without your effort ... His power is useless.”

Our goal as Christians is to become effective and productive in the spiritual realm along with gaining street smarts of knowledge and wisdom in life and in relationships. God knows it takes effort to live the Christian life ... it doesn’t just happen. God’s Spirit empowers us with His own moral goodness. He has given us the tools available through salvation, the Power Tools of life. He has given us this power available only through His Spirit. Successful believers must work at being successful believers!

The amount of God’s power in your life is determined by the amount of your effort. In racing, you don’t win—if you don’t put forth effort and discipline. Therefore, your walk with God will be successful and exciting if you work at it wholeheartedly!

God wants to engage and excite you into following His plan. Another goal of your journey is to mature spiritually during a life-long process of Christ-like-ness. Without “certain” Christ-like qualities, you are unproductive and ineffective. Purpose, peace and paradise are waiting for people who accept God’s plan.

The fountain of all spiritual blessings is the divine power of God through Jesus Christ. He gives you life and precious promises that are trustworthy. Remember, to cross God’s spiritual bridge is to live, and “For to me, to live is Christ …” (Philippians 1:21a).

            Let’s consider how your faith can withstand intense testing. Job from the Old Testament was comforted by God’s sovereignty in the midst of personal disaster as he clung to the comforting truth that God was in control. Job looked ahead, but at the same time was well aware of God’s presence in his life, knowing one day he would rest safely with the Lord. Job also gazed at the mysterious world around him, but was consciously molded by the guidance that was revealed by God’s control over creation.

            Philip Yancey writes: “But the more important battle, as shown in Job, takes place inside of us. Will we trust God? Job teaches that at the moment when faith is hardest and least likely, then faith is most needed. Every fact of faith by every one of the people of God is like the tolling of a bell, and a faith like Job’s reverberates throughout the universe.”

            Physical, emotional, and spiritual bridges will always be a part of life. What gives you the faith to cross a bridge over troubled waters? Is it the company that built the bridge that you drive your truck and trailer over? Is it the man-made materials that the bridge is constructed of that gives you that peaceful easy feeling?

            God spoke the universe into existence. Christ holds the universe together. And the power of the Holy Spirit gives you the faith and confidence to cross not only bridges on earth: But, now, you understand full well that this mighty Trio has negotiated with eternity a bridge that will eventually take you to the other side of life … eternity with Them.

            With God, there are no grave situations … only grace conditions. And grace will always see you safely to the other side. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). I visualize a bridge in every circumstance of life and it always leads to the Head of our household, Jesus Christ. No need to call the cavalry, the toll for your passage was collected not on a made-made bridge over troubled waters, but on an old wooden cross on a bone-dry hill called Calvary.

Jim Jack