“There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.” Isaiah 4:6
Terri and I really appreciate covered bridges. In fact, we have a picture of one on our fireplace mantel which holds a special place in Terri’s life. It is a picture of the Wehr Covered Bridge in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The bridge spans Jordan Creek and once, along with a mill pond, grist mill (flour mill) and home belonged to one of her ancestors. In the 1860s he lived and operated the mill there. The home and grist mill are now gone but the mill pond and bridge remain. The bridge is now a historical landmark.
I also have a covered bridge in my ancestral past. In the early 1860s the covered bridge at Bridgeport was used to cross the Yuba River by my great great grandfather as he drove freight wagons over the Henness Pass between Yuba City, CA and Virginia City, NV during the Comstock Lode. This bridge, shown in the picture above, is also a historical landmark.
Over the years as I marveled at the beauty, solid construction and inviting shelter provided to those who traveled through them, I came to think of covered bridges as a shadowy likeness of the protection provided by our Lord.
Like the protection found in Jesus, a covered bridge provides safety and protection, while carrying those who travel through them over a ravine, canyon or body of water, whereas those in Christ are carried through life by His sacrificial grace beyond our sin to eternity. The covered bridge provides protection from the rain, wind and heat from the world around it, while Jesus provides protection and comfort from the constant bombardment of sin.
But that’s where the similarity or likeness ends. Covered bridges, even though they may be historical landmarks, will at some point fail, fall apart and fade away. But our Savior and His saving grace will last and support those in Him for all eternity. So, the next time you have to opportunity to enjoy the beauty, strength, and utility of a cover bridge think of it as a shadow of its true Maker… Jesus Christ, our true Covered Bridge, who is more than able to carry us over the chasm of sin that lies between us and God, and the only One who is able to carry us through life and on to eternity.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans: 8:35; 37-38