CCBC

Bridges not barriers

To fulfil one of his key election pledges Donald Trump, the new President of the USA, has already ordered the construction of a wall between America and Mexico, with the promise that Mexico will pay for it. Many, dating back to Martin Luther King and beyond, have commented that mankind should build ‘bridges’ rather than ‘walls’ and it seems especially unjust that a relatively poor country like Mexico should be forced to meet the cost of this particular wall.
One of the great Gospel verses is Ephesians 2v14: “For He Himself [i.e. Jesus Christ] is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility”. Through His death on the cross Jesus has destroyed the barrier of sin between mankind and God, and has demolished the previously hostile division between Jews and Gentiles. Each Christian believer is, therefore, one of a united new people of God – no wonder we rejoice in Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
We will be studying this morning Jacob’s dream in which he sees a stairway reaching from earth to heaven (Genesis 28v12). We understand from John 1v51 that Jesus Himself is that stairway, that bridge between heaven and earth. He is the way, the truth and the life – no one can draw near to God except through Him (John 14v6).
In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5v9) – they are truly reflecting the character of God. We also note from 2 Corinthians 5v18&20 that God has now given to each Christian the ministry of reconciliation so that we plead with others “Be reconciled to God”.
Are you a bridge builder or a constructor of wall / barriers? Are you making “every effort to do what leads to peace” (Romans 14v19)?
Peace and Grace
Paul