Did you stop at the bridge?

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1Ti 4:16

Recently I have taken up the past time of riding my bicycle. I began riding only a short distance and then daily I try to increase my distance. Every day it seems to be getting easier and easier to go further. I continually have to watch for traffic coming both ways. I usually ride on whichever side of the road has no traffic. If there is traffic from both directions, I simply get off of the highway and wait for it to pass. This is a safety precaution, because if I stayed on the road with the traffic coming from both directions I would more than likely be hurt. The more that I ride it seems that my muscles are becoming stronger and the uphill rides don’t seem as difficult. When I get to the downhill part I simply sit back on the seat and enjoy the reward of the easy coast downhill. I look at this as my reward for making it up the hill.

When I was young I used to ride every day, some days even my Mom and Dad would join us. We thought it was such a privilege to get to ride out on the highway and when we finally had permission to ride all the way to the bridge we knew we had arrived. The first few times we rode that far, only eight tenths of a mile, my Dad rode with us to make sure we learned properly how to watch for traffic and he would also show us the beauty alongside of the road as we rode teaching us to enjoy even the uphill parts of the ride.

As I reflect on this it seems to go along well with my Christian walk. When I first started my walk as a baby Christian just having daily prayer time on a regular basis seemed like the long ride to the bridge and I needed encouragement and my heavenly Father was always right there to help me. As I grew in knowledge and wisdom the Father would encourage me to ride further into his word, into intercession, into his love. If you have ever truly interceded for someone then you know that’s definitely an uphill ride. If you have every truly loved someone who despises you, then you know that is also an uphill ride.

In my Christian walk I must continually watch for traffic, where it is coming from, the attacks of the enemy, the business of life, the cares of the world, and the desires of the flesh. When the traffic is light and I am peddling along he instructs me to look at the beauty of the circumstances I am riding through as I travel the road. At times the traffic seems to be coming at me from all directions and I am instructed by the Father to get off the road, to come aside and spend some quiet time with him.

There are many times in our Christian walk the ride always seems to be going uphill, but I can promise you and God’s word promises you there is coming a long downhill ride where you will be able to sit back and enjoy the coast, the reward for your uphill journey. You shall reap in due season if you faint not. Unlike my earthly Father who no longer rides with me, my heavenly father will continue to ride with me till this ride on earth is over.

I pray that in your walk with God you didn't just ride to the bridge and think you had arrived, saying to yourself; I’m saved, I go to church, I read my bible, what more does he want? God is asking you to ride a greater distance daily. He is saying love your enemy, pray for them that despitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you. He is saying if they ask for your coat give them more. He is pleading go the extra mile. Don’t just talk about being a Christian live like one. I can see a downhill coast don’t give up. Continue!