Burning our Bridges behind Us.

By: Rev. Robert Vergeson D.D.

Burning our Bridges behind us.

Throughout the history of man’s development and progress, man has physically faced many barriers toward this progress. When faced with a problem such as crossing a river, or gorge, man built bridges, structures that overcame these problems in the progress of development and growth as a civilization. The build these bridges man has had to create way and means to do so. Material and engineering were designed and created to allow man to build these bridges. Out of our earlier history, was the science of bridge building developed through the natural process of creative thought, theory, and the good old trial and error method. But once these methods were worked out, and one successful bridge led to another, their were no natural barriers on earth that couldn’t be crossed by man, with a few exceptions. Even the barrier of space has been overcome and man has visited celestial and heavenly bodies in our skies. There is no barrier which remains a barrier once man decides to bridge it through science and good old man power.

The same approach can be said regarding our life when we are asked to build spiritual bridges that allow us to cross the many barriers our sinful flesh presents to us. To overcome the many struggles we face in life we must build bridges. As we spoke in our opening remarks, a “Bridge” is a structure that is built over a natural barrier to allow us to overcome these barriers so that we can get to the other side and back again. The same can be said for ourselves in building spiritual bridges in our lives that allow us to cross over difficult times, or overcome personal barriers in our emotional make up, or misconceptions we believe about ourselves, and to enter into a covenant with Christ. Unlike the bridges man builds to cross natural barriers going back and forth, the spiritual bridges we make are meant to be burnt once we cross them forsaking our sinful life. If we do not burn them behind us, we can find ourselves crossing these bridges back and forth over and over again returning to sin.

Read the following Scriptures and take note as to what they speak to us. These scriptures tell us a lot about what happens when we fail to heed Gods words, and the consequences of our failure to burn bridges behind us.

1 Kings 11:10-12
He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord's command. [11] So now the Lord said to him, "Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my laws, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. [12] But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son.

Mark 4:17-20
But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word. [18] The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, [19] but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced. [20] But the good soil represents those who hear and accept God's message and produce a huge harvest—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."

Luke 9:61-62

[61] Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family." [62] But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."

James 1:1-6
This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is written to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations.
Greetings! [2] Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. [3] For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. [5] If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. [6] But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

The spiritual bridges we build are one-way bridges, never meant to allow us to cross back and forth. To do so is to say that we never truly put behind the old man in us and put on the new man we are asked to become. If we leave these bridges behind us we are tempted to re-cross them, reliving the struggle that led us to build the bridge in the first place. Christ asks us to build our spiritual life based on how we overcome our personal barriers (sin). We are asked to bridge the old us and to cross over to a better life then the one we left. It is Gods desire that we burn that bridge once we cross over it. Many of us do not, and many of us find ourselves setting in the middle of that bridge trying to make up our mind if we should go forward or go back across from were we started. These fence setters never really make a decision that benefits them personally in their spiritual life and often become a barrier for others who try to cross the same bridge. Lets read some more scripture and get a further glimpse of what I speak of.

Romans 6:4-7
For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. [5] Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. [6] Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. [7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

Col. 3:8-11
But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. [9] Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. [10] In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. [11] In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

2 Cor. 5:16-18
So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! [17] What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! [18] All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.

2 Cor. 12:8-10
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. [10] Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Cor. 9:22-25
When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. [23] I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings. [24] Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. [25] All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

1 Tim. 4:6-9
If you explain this to the brothers and sisters, you will be doing your duty as a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is fed by the message of faith and the true teaching you have followed. [7] Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. [8] Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. [9] This is true, and everyone should accept it.

1 Tim. 4:14-16
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. [15] Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. [16] Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you.

Hebrews 12:1-4
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. [3] Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. [4] After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Matthew 7:12-14
"Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. [13] "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. [14] But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

John 10:7-9
so he explained it to them. "I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep," he said. [8] "All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. [9] Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.

Luke 13:22-24
Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. [23] Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"
He replied, [24] "The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter,

It is a simple fact, we enter the path that leads over that spiritual bridge through some very narrow and difficult terrain in our lives. Once on that spiritual bridge we gain sight of the end, but like most things in our lives, we become a bit complacent about the need to finish our journey and find ourselves becoming fence sitters. Now there are those who do make it to the end of the spiritual bridge, yet, they keep looking back from where they came from and are tempted to cross back over the bridge and do so many times. They are yet to learn how to burn the bridge behind them, making it impossible to return. Those who have burnt their bridges behind them are Spiritually mature Christians, members of Christ’s family of authentic believers. They have no bridges to return to, for they have burnt them thoroughly to the ground.

Like the spiritual bridges we need to cross, there are personal bridges we need to cross as well. These bridges lead from many paths and end on the other side to success over personal goals that we have set for ourselves. These bridges also need to be burnt once you have crossed them. To do less is to lose your victory over the reason why you crossed the bridge in the first place. Sin is a personal barrier we need to cross and then destroy the bridge behind us. Pride can destroy us, lead us to return back and re-cross our bridges. Where our humility in Christ can build us up before God, allowing us to cross only once and never look back. Cross this bridge and burn it behind you. Abusive behavior or addictions destroy the vessel, our body which was meant to hold the Holy Spirit. These are barriers that prevent us from entering that narrow gate to eternal life. Addictions of the flesh and mind are strong barriers to overcome but not impossible to bridge. Unfortunately, addictions can have a tight hold over us, drawing us back across the bridge. Half-way through our crossing, we keep looking back being tempted to stop, turn around, and embrace our addictions once again. Those who can complete the crossing without looking back are those who have surrendered all to Christ, never looking back, always going forward, for they have burned the bridge behind them.

Christ asks us to prepare ourselves to run the race to win and to run that race in such a way that we are victor’s over our sinful flesh and win the prize of eternal life.
The race we run and how we prepare ourselves for the race is very important to our ability to win the final prize. If we are ill prepared to run or our bodies to weak to run, we will fail to complete the race. Failure is not what God plans for us, but rather for us to enter His kingdom as victors. Gods plans included ways for us to prepare our bodies and mind to enter this race, and He gave us some very clear facts about what we face on our race. With all these preparations planned out for us by God, there is no reason why we can’t run the race and win.

Ephes. 6:10-18
A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. [11] Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. [12] For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. [13] Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. [14] Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. [15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. [16] In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. [17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

Once we start the race, the track that we run on will take us over many bridges which are built over those barriers God wants us to overcome. Once we cross these bridges on our race track, we should never look back, or attempt to re-cross a bridge we have already crossed over. When we come to a barrier that has not been bridged, then we must find within ourselves the strength and courage to overcome that barrier, building our own bridge over the barrier though our faith in God.

Luke 17:1-10
One day Jesus said to his disciples, "There will always be temptations to sin, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. [2] It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck than to face the punishment in store for harming one of these little ones. [3] I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. [4] Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him."
[5] One day the apostles said to the Lord, "We need more faith; tell us how to get it."
[6] "Even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed," the Lord answered, "you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May God uproot you and throw you into the sea,' and it would obey you! [7] "When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat. [8] He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. [9] And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. [10] In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.' "

Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [2] Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. [3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. [4] And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. [5] And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. [6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [9] And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment. [10] For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. [11] So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.

1 Cor. 13:10-13
But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear.
[11] It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. [12] Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. [13] There are three things that will endure—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Hebrews 10:35-39
Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! [36] Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. [37] "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. [38] And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away." [39] But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation.

Hebrews 11:1-3
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. [2] God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. [3] By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Once we build one bridge we learn though this experience how to build other bridges, thus strengthening our faith, increasing our hope, and reaching our fullest potential in God. Weather it be spiritual bridges, or personnel bridges, once we cross them or build them to cross, going forward is our only progress possible in reaching the end of our race. Once their, all bridges and barriers are forgotten and we shall live in a kingdom that is void of any obstacles and barriers.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 14:1-7
"Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. [2] There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. [3] When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [4] And you know where I am going and how to get there." [5] "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" [6] Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [7] If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him and have seen him!"

Luke 12:30-32
These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. [31] He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. [32] "So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Now before I end this message, I shall give you the ultimate multi-purpose tool for which to build your bridges. This tool is very powerful and has stood the test of time as the foremost bridge building tool. It is the Word of God, Christ our shepherd, the Holy Spirit, and our prayer life. Combine this into one tool, and it is all we need to create our bridges which will lead us to eternal life and the heavenly kingdom of God.

Proverbs 1:7
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.

2 Tim. 3:10-17 (Paul speaking to Timothy)
But you know what I teach, Timothy, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith and how long I have suffered. You know my love and my patient endurance. [11] You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord delivered me from all of it. [12] Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. [13] But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived. [14] But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. [15] You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. [17] It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

Hebrews 13:18-21
Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. [19] I especially need your prayers right now so that I can come back to you soon.
[20] [20-21] And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. [21]

James 1:3-6
For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. [5] If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. [6] But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Go forth and build your bridges, cross them, and never look back.

Rev. Robert D. Vergeson D.D.

Article Source: http://www.religionarticlelibrary.com

Rev. Vergeson is an associate member of the Universal Life Church (since 1979) and founder of God’s Temple of Grace Ministry Website at www.geocities.com/revdocrobert . The website offers bible studies and personal testimony. Visit www.todayschurch.blogspot.com for additional written material by Rev. Vergeson. You can contact Rev. Vergeson through email at RevDocRobert@yahoo.com

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