29 The Bridge Operator
Michael has been the town's bridge operator for over 25 years. He raises the bridge to let ships cross the bay and he lowers the bridge to allow the train to cross. Michael's job has never been really that difficult, but today, Michael faces the most agonizing decision in his life. Cold sweat slowly drips from his face as he hears the cries of his son Joshua, his one and only son and the roar of the oncoming train.
Michael brought his son with him to work to show his son what Joshua what he did for a living. While Michael was busy manning the bridge controls, his son wandered away and started playing on the train tracks near the bridge. However, Joshua fell and got stuck just underneath the bridge. As soon as Michael heard his sons cries for help, he was about to bolt out of his booth when he hears the whistle of an oncoming train. A paralyzing fear gripped Michael's body. What is he going to do? If Michael left the booth, he would save his son, but the train would crash into the raised drawbridge and derail, killing hundreds of people. If instead Michael chose to lower the drawbridge, the train would safely cross the bridge, but his son would be crushed by the drawbridge.
Images of past experiences and precious moments that Michael shared with his beloved son swirled around him. Joshua had been the perfect son, always obedient to his father and willing to help out. Joshua has always been kind, compassionate, caring, and innocent. Michael didn't know anyone on that train. How could they compare to his son? There may be some people on that train that were cruel, shameless, and heartless. For all he knew, the train could have been full of unrepentant sinners deserving of death!
However, Michael found that he couln't leave the booth. There are hundreds of people in that train. They didn't deserve to die like this. With heart-rending anguish, Michael made his choice and lowered the drawbridge. Tears streamed out of his eyes like a torrent as he watched the drawbridge lower and he listened to his son's cries of "Father! Father! Help me! Why have you forsaken me?"
Joshua's cries were silenced and the drawbridge lowered in time for the train to safely cross over. The passengers were blissfully unaware of Michael's great sacrifice. Would they ever be aware of what just happened? While most of the passengers continued their conversations in the train, there were a few passengers who peered out and saw Michael crying on his knees and pointing to the bridge, and one or two of those passengers had a feeling that something tragic had been averted, but at what cost?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. This verse of Scripture from John 3:16 reminds us the great cost God paid to redeem all of us. God loved us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice. The gift of salvation was brought at great price and all we need to do to accept it is to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. We also need to let the world know the Good News and share this message with everyone!
- Recommended reading: Galatian 4:1-7
