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Is Jesus The Only Way?
Brian Mashburn
May 10, 2009
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Only One Way?
There were once a beautiful, but primitive, people who lived on a lush and fruitful land. The land sprawled endlessly to the East, West, and South, farther than any of the tribe had explored. To the North was a very deep and wide chasm, across which you could see more fruitful land.
A sad time came when a fire scorched the land that the people lived upon, destroying their means of survival. Their only hope lay across the wide chasm that could not be crossed.
A very wealthy and compassionate bridge builder heard of this people's plight, examined the chasm, and found a spot two miles west over which he built a bridge from the devastated land to the land of life. It cost the builder everything he had.
He went to the dying people and told them the good news. He told them that all they must do is follow him there, cross the bridge, and life would be theirs.
The hungry children leapt to their feet with excitement, but the "wise" and thoughtful among them refused to have the people follow.
They questioned why the builder had not built the bridge right here in front of them? If the builder cared, they reasoned, he would have, and they would not need faith in his mere word that it existed. They also thought it impossible and wrong that there was only one bridge. If the builder can build a bridge, they argued, why only one? "What of the tribe to the East that does not know of this "good news," and are farther away from this supposed bridge?" they pondered. "Is this 'caring' builder not in truth cruel if there is no other bridge closer to them?" They concluded that he could not have their best interests in mind. And so they could not trust and follow.
A worker looked at the builder and said, "Let us go home. Only an arrogant and selfish people would look at your sacrificial gift and then complain.
But the builder looked at the dying people and wept. And he stayed and lived among them hoping by some means to save some.