Barriers And Bridges To God Series

I don’t know why but bridges have always been amazing to me. I think I am amazed by them because of what accomplish. They overcome barriers and literally “build bridges” to places previously difficult or impossible to get.

For example: The longest bridge in the world was completed in 2011. It is 102 miles long. It is the Danyang-Kushan Grand Bridge in China. It connects two provinces in China overcoming the barriers like the Yangtze River Delta of lowland rice paddies, canals, rivers, and lakes and opened the door for travel allowing 10,000 people per day to get work done that previously was virtually impossible.

The longest bridge in the United States is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. It has two parallel bridges almost 24 miles in length. Without it travel and connection in a lot of Southern Louisiana would require a boat or ferry.

For 10 years in my life I lived in Michigan. In Michigan there is a bridge that is nicknamed “Mighty Mac or Big Mac.” It’s the Mackinac Bridge which connects the southern Peninsula of Michigan to the Northern Peninsula. It is a suspension bridge that is almost five miles long. Want to get to it? Get out here on I-75 and head north. It is symbol in Michigan of what makes two land masses into one state. It links the state together and makes it one.

Explanation:

In the Bible, Jesus is likened to a bridge. He connects us to God. People even use “the Bridge” illustration to explain the life and ministry of Jesus.

I Timothy says: “For there is one God, and one mediator (bridge) between God and me, the man Jesus Christ. “

In Hebrews 9, we are reminded of how Jesus is like a bridge. Before Jesus, while people wanted to know it was difficult and ultimately impossible. The only way to make the attempt was to try to do it the Old Testament way; through the rituals and regulations outlined in the Old Testament.

Yet, when Jesus came; He literally became a bridge that provides easy access to God.

Today, let me ask you, how are you trying to get to God? The Old Testament way or the New Testament way? Jesus said: “I am the way...” The word there is the Greek Word “Hodos” -- meaning, “ the path, the bridge, the highway” to God.

In this passage we are drawn to run to Jesus by contrasting the “old ways” of trying to get to God versus the “new and living way” to get to God through Jesus.

Transition: How do people try to get to God? Let’s see:

I. Some Try To Get To God Without Jesus

Vs. 1-10- “Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.”

Explanation:

Since the beginning of time, intuitively and spiritually we know there’s a God. As a matter of fact, God says: “The fool says in his heart there is no God” Psalm 14:1

You were created to know God. Not only that, but God created you for eternity as we read: “God has set eternity in the human heart.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

You see, this life is not the end for us. This life is preparation for eternity and living it with God. The Bible says: “Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

Yet, without Jesus, getting to God was impossible and to establish this fact; God gave an Old System in the Old Testament to prove it. That was so difficult that only one person could actually do it perfectly and it His name was Jesus.

Why was it so hard?

1) Everything was regulated. (vs. 1)

There were barriers to worship and getting to God.

Forty-seven chapters in Bible outline the regulations required to get to God through the Old Covenant. (The second half of Exodus and whole book of Leviticus was dedicated to all the regulations.)

Everything was spelled out and its full of regulations. It feels a lot like someone saying; sit up straight, what you are wearing matters, what you bring as an offering mattered. Everything was regulated.

For example: Exodus 26 and 27 that explains how the tabernacle was to be build was prefaced with the phrase “Exactly as I show you.”

Do you know what would have happened in a church in America? Someone would have said: “Can’t we have a committee on this?” The answer is “no.” Can’t we vote on this and ask questions? “No!”

Sacrifices were regulated. Two lambs every day one in the morning, one at night. Grain offerings, sin offerings, scape goats, cities of refuge, ceremony rules, feasts, sabbath rules, mandated tithes, diet restrictions, what you could eat, how you could prepare it, and etc.