Jesus Bridged the Gap

Jesus Bridged the Gap
Job 9.30-35
30 Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with washing soda, 31 you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. 32 "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. 33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, 34 someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. 35 Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

Colossians 1.21-22
21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…”
A repetitive theme in the Old Testament is Man’s separation from God. From Genesis 3 onwards, we see sin separating Man from the fellowship of His Maker. While God presented Himself to the nation of Israel during the Old Testament, the sacrificial offerings were not enough to completely connect Man to God. It was as if there were a great, impassable gulf between Man and His Maker, larger than any canyon or ocean, higher than any mountain, with no hope in sight. Job, after recognizing his own humanity, wished that “there [was] someone to arbitrate between [Job and his friends], to lay His hand upon [them], someone to remove God’s rod from [Job], so that His terror would frighten [him] no more.”

Christ came to fulfill Job’s wish. Christ came to bridge the gap between man and God. The Cross is that bridge to the eternal. Through His sacrifice, Christ “has reconciled [us] by His physical body through death.” All the wrath we deserve was poured out and paid for by Christ. There is no need for further reconciliation. No act that you could do, no kind enough words, no goodness you could measure would be enough to fulfill that bridge to God. It’s already been taken care of. You owe God nothing, and He isn’t asking for you to pay anything. He merely asks that you follow Him. He asks that you walk across that bridge of faith, often scary from the wild heights below, to reach Him upon your physical death. Then Mankind will be complete; He will have reached His pinnacle. He will be restored to His original purpose—perfect fellowship with God in order to bring glory to God.

Have you bridged the gap, beloved? Have you ever allowed Jesus to take away your sins? The process of salvation is very simple: “[i]f you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10.9). Confess your sins to Jesus today. Ask Him to enter into your heart. Allow Him to bridge the gap. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich