6.5.25
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
He was walking through the jungles of deepest, darkest Africa and God told him to be at a certain village by noon because He wanted to do a great work among the people of that village. The man made his way toward the village and at 11:55 AM, he came to a deep chasm that had to be crossed in order to reach the village. It was five minutes until the noon deadline. If he climbed down and back up again, it would be well past noon. If he tried to make his way around the chasm to find a suitable crossing place, it would be well past noon. The only way to arrive at the village by noon was to make his way straight across the chasm – and there was no bridge. The only solution that presented itself was to go straight across the chasm by walking on air. The man reasoned that if Peter could walk on water, he could walk on air. God had told him to there by noon and he believed that God would sustain him. So, he took a deep breath and stepped over the edge of the chasm and walked on air and reached the other side and came to the village. He preached the gospel to the villagers and God did a great work.
Years later, God told the man to revisit that same village. He made his way through the jungle, but this time, he discovers that a bridge had been erected over the chasm. Now, does this man stand there and demand that God sustain him as he walks on air to reach the village, or does he take the bridge? Does he demand that God work the same way He had previously, or does he take the bridge? I think the sane minded among us would say, “Take the bridge!”
Medical science has increased a million-fold between now and Bible times. In Bible times, Jesus and the apostles and many in the early church worked medical miracles. With just a word, or by the laying on of hands accompanied by prayer, the lame walked, the blind saw, the deaf heard, the mute spoke, and the sick were made whole. Yet between Biblical times and today, The Bridge of Medicine has been erected over the Chasm of Sickness and Disease. Are Christians today supposed to stand and demand healing and wholeness the way it came about in Bible times, or can we take the Bridge of Medicine to healing and wholeness?
Let’s be brutally honest. Even among Pentecostals and Charismatics, many of our prayers for healing and wholeness don’t result in healing and wholeness. Instead of standing around and pointing fingers at who does or doesn’t have faith, or who does or doesn’t have sin in their lives, let’s take the Bridge of Medicine. If the man making his way to the village the second time were to ask God, “Will You supernaturally sustain me if I step out into thin air, or should I take the bridge?”, I think God would say, “Take the bridge (knucklehead)!” Faith is one thing while wisdom is another. The bridge isn’t a matter of faith, it’s a matter of wisdom.
Probably, like you, we pray for healing and wholeness. We pray for people with cancers and tumors and lumps and bumps and pains and diseases. We also don’t shame people for taking the Bridge of Medicine.
Here’s what James 1:17 says: EVERY GOOD THING GIVEN AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHIFTING SHADOW.
That bridge over the chasm in deepest, darkest Africa was a good thing. The Bridge of Medicine is a good thing. It’s from the Father of Lights! Let’s walk in both faith and wisdom.
Be blessed and stay healthy (even if you need to take the Bridge) and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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