Puente

If you’re unfamiliar with the Spanish language, a “puente” is a bridge. Earlier this summer my family and I drove over the new Ohio River bridges between Louisville (both downtown and in the Prospect area) and Southern Indiana. Very impressive. Gorgeous in fact. Massive accomplishments of design, engineering, and construction. In fact the experts were planning those bridges when we moved to the Louisville area in 1998.

Are you old enough to remember Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water”? I thought about that song this morning as I read the news from Cairo, Egypt. Six tourists were violently assaulted at the Hurghada resort – three from Serbia, two from Ukraine, and one from Poland. These people were simply enjoying a vacation when a man stabbed them in the face, neck, and feet. How did the attacker gain access to the vacationers? He simply swam from a nearby beach, under the radar screen of security officials.

Will there be international outrage over this incident? Likely not. It’s far too commonplace. Most people will “ho hum” through the news report and go on with their daily grind.

But you and I know that we need a bridge over the turbulence of this fallen world for such a time as this. By His death on the Cross, and by His glorious resurrection from the dead, Jesus has made a way – in fact He has become the Way – for us to triumph over our own sin (John 14:6)! Our Lord comforts in the storms of life, and He shelters us from the paralysis which would overtake us all if – for even a moment – we took seriously the troubling circumstances raging all around us.

Jesus is our safety when no other refuge exists. It is by communion with His Spirit – who lives within us and who never ceases to pray for us – that we find peace in seasons of uncertainty and fear.

Our Messiah is also our very best friend. He is always there for us. He leads and guides for the glory of His own name. When we have lost our way, as we’re quite prone to do, He finds us like the very best of shepherds. He sticks with us, especially when the going gets tough. He never leaves us, and He never forsakes us. He loves us like no other.

In the words of the ancient prophet (Isaiah 9:6): “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Whether we’re in Cairo or Kentucky, we’re desperately in need of Christ. He is our Bridge over every troubled water.

Pastor Charles