The Golden Gate Bridge was built in the 1930s at a cost of $30,000,000. Engineers of steel structures had a rule of thumb — for every million dollars spent on construction, one steel worker would probably lose his life in an accident. Those were the days before the industry developed many of today’s safety practices. The Golden Gate Bridge was a particularly risky project because of the gusty winds and fogs that sometimes blew in unexpectedly off the Pacific Ocean.
Ed Sprague, the chief engineer of the Bridge, was not happy with the prospect of so many men dying. He decided to do something about it. After the 746-foot-tall towers were erected, he ordered a giant safety net to be installed. This safety net was stretched out under the working men, and it saved many lives. The safety net involved a lot expense, but it proved cost effective because the work progressed at a faster pace.
When the Golden Gate Bridge was finished, it made it possible for cars to travel across a great expanse of water. Each one of us is a traveler on the road to eternity. But a great expanse has opened up between God and sinful men. The Lord Jesus died and gave up His life so that sinners might have a way to cross that great expanse. When someone realizes their sinful condition and believes on His name, they receive the remission of sins. This means that all their sins are wiped away, and they are seen as righteous in His sight.
The moment a person believes in Christ marks the beginning of a special journey. Believers are to live as if they are making a “passage” through this life and their true home and destination is heaven. As they try to live for Christ, they may stumble and fall because they still possess a human nature that has been twisted by sin. However, God has placed a safety net under them which will catch them. This permits the believer to get back up and continue on his or her way until the journey is finished. Proverbs 24:1616For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. (Proverbs 24:16) reads, “A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.”
But it doesn’t work that way with people who reject the message of God’s grace and forgiveness. “The wicked shall fall into mischief” (Proverbs 24:1616For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. (Proverbs 24:16)). There is no safety net under them to protect them. As long as they are alive, they may still turn from their sins to the Saviour and receive the gift of eternal life. But when this life is over, if they remained resistant to the gospel, they will fall from the heights of this world into a real hell, and there will be nothing to stop their fall. “These shall go away into everlasting punishment,” the Lord Jesus said (Matthew 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)). It’s terribly sad to think about a worker falling from a bridge to their death, but it is a thousand times worse to think of a soul falling from this life into the darkness and depths of a lost eternity!
The Chief Engineer of the universe puts a great value on the souls He has created. He values and loves them immensely and has done all He can possibly do to save them. He spared no cost in sending the Lord Jesus into the world. He doesn’t want any to perish but desires all men to return to Him. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)).
Won’t you start on the way to heaven today, by repenting of your sins and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ?
You might not be an iron worker, but you’ve certainly had a car ride before. Next time you strap on the seat belt, you can put the message of the next two stories back into the front of your mind.