Lessons From A Fallen Bridge
-Introduction
-In last week’s lesson, I stated that the summer/vacation driving season had begun.
-Such is evident this week by the fact that so many of our number are
gone…traveling. Such is to be expected with it being Memorial Day weekend.
-Last week we compared our life on earth with that of a trip or journey.
-We need to consult our map (God’s inspired word) regularly to make sure
we’re on the right road and to make sure that we stay on that road.
-Eventually, thanks to the love, grace and mercy of God, we can reach our
destination – an everlasting home in heaven.
-This morning, I want to use similar imagery along with an event that happened
five years ago as of yesterday – May 26, 2002.
-It was on that date that a barge on the Arkansas River struck the I-40 bridge
causing it to collapse. Fourteen people then plunged off the interstate to
their deaths.
-Following the tragedy, a friend of mine was given the opportunity to stand
at the scene of the fallen bridge.
-He noticed the brake marks on the interstate – some slid off the edge – those
who didn’t get stopped in time. Others stopped short of the fallen bridge –
those who did get stopped on time.
-He also noted the absence of brake marks. Some of the drivers who plunged
into the river had never even hit their brakes – evidently unaware of the danger.
-So, let’s note some lessons from a fallen bridge.
-Those Who Never Hit Their Brakes
-Those who never hit their brakes were unaware of the danger that lay right before them.
-Unfortunately, many people are living their lives in such a fashion…spiritually.
-They are headed toward a terrible tragedy – everlasting separation from God – being
cast into the torments of hell – but they seemingly are unaware of it.
-This makes me think of two different groups of people:
1. worldly minded individuals who have left God completely out of the equation
-athiests, those consumed in sin with no desire to change
-These folks have a false security in this world. They feel safe.
-1 Thess 5:1-6
-Matt 24:37-39
2. religiously-minded individuals who have fallen victim to false teachings
-They have been blinded by the blind – Matt 15:12-14.
-Matt 23:13; Luke 11:52
-2 Tim 4:1-4
-Some follow false teachers because they seek those who will tell them what
they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.
-Others follow false teachers because they’ve been deceived that the message
is true. Many false teachers truly believe their message is right.
-2 Tim 3:1-13 – deceived and deceiving
-So, there are religiously-minded people with a false sense of security – Matt 7:21.
-Those Whose Brake Marks Continued Off the Edge
-These folks realized that there was danger ahead and almost avoided it.
-As the song says, “Almost persuaded…almost but lost.”
-These are the folks who know that danger lies ahead. They know they need to do
something to avoid it – they might even know what that something is – yet they delay.
Meanwhile, they continue down the same path drawing closer & closer to the danger.
-Individuals might say, “I know that I would be in serious trouble spiritually if my
life ended now. I know what I need to do. But, I’ll do it later/someday…”
-Unfortunately, for many of those folks, later/someday doesn’t come in time.
-2 Cor 6:2 – “…now is the day of salvation.”
-Consider the obituaries in the paper. Do you suppose any of those people knew
which day was going to be his/her last?
-Examples of Felix and Agrippa: Acts 22:24-25; 26:28 – (“Almost but lost”)
-Those Whose Brakes Marks Stopped Short of the Fallen Bridge
-These are the one who realized the danger that lay ahead and avoided the disaster.
-These are the ones who realize their spiritual need brought about by sin and do something
about it.
-These are the ones who acknowledge the fact that they have sinned (Rom 3:23).
-This reminds me of the words of Jesus when He contrasted the prayer of a humble
man to that of a self-exalted Pharisee – Luke 18:9-14.
-Consider the thief on the cross: Before he made his appeal to Jesus, he first acknowledged
his own sinfulness – Luke 23:39-43.
-We must realize and acknowledge the fact that we are guilty of sin and therefore in need
of forgiveness.
-We must then seek God’s forgiveness through the Gospel of Christ – believing in Jesus
(John 3:16, 8:24), confessing that faith (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), repenting of our sins
(Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), being baptized into Christ for forgiveness (Mark 16:16, Acts
2:38).
-We must then strive to serve God faithfully by abiding in the doctrine of Christ (Rom
6:4, 2 Jn 9-11). If we get back on a path headed for danger, we need to take the
necessary corrective actions.
-Like the prodigal son, we need to acknowledge our shortcomings again (Luke 15:21).
We need to repent and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 Jn 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).
-Summary & Invitation
-Let’s not forget the heroes at the scene – fishermen who pulled people from the river and
helped to stop the oncoming traffic.
-One fishermen in particular fired a flare at an oncoming diesel, alerting him to the
danger. The diesel driver then pulled across the lanes of traffic stopping others.
-Fishermen – that’s who/what we need to be!
-Matt 4:19
-We need to be warning people of the danger that lies ahead. We need to be helping in
pulling people from the grasps and eventual fall brought about by sin.
-The only way to accomplish this: spreading the Gospel of Christ – Matt 28:18-20.