This past weekend we went on a three-day ride covering over 500 miles. We went to the coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks.
By far, one of my favorite parts of that ride is the bridges. Not the flat ones as much as the high ones that ascend in a way that makes me feel like I am riding up the back of a huge brontosaurus. You know, the dinosaur that Fred Flintstone slides down when the show hits quitting time?
There is one bridge that goes over the Oregon Inlet. As ride it, I immediately feel the wind rushing around me as I ascend. If I keep my eyes on the road ahead, all I see is the seemingly endless pavement until I hit the top. That is when I get this amazing view of the Inlet that takes my breath away. It lasts only moments as I begin my descent back down, but it is incredible.
There are several bridges like this, but on this ride, this one was by far my favorite.
Life as a Christian can be a lot like climbing that bridge on a motorcycle. It can feel slightly intimidating and a little dangerous. It is sometimes tempting to turn back to our own life when things seem too hard.
But imagine if I stop before reaching the top, I will never see that vision of God's creation. I will miss what makes the climb worth while.
As Paul says in Philippians chapter 3,
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:12-14 (NIV)
Never forget this world is not our home, and we have that prize waiting for us at the end. As Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (NIV)
We are not promised an easy life, but we are promised the victory in Christ. And at the end, when it is all said and done we will reach the top, we will have eternal life with Him. The vision that awaits us there is beyond our imagination and will last for more than a moment, it will be for eternity.
