My husband and I recently climbed a mountain. (That looks so impressive in print!) Yes, we really did climb all 700 feet of it, in one mile, mostly straight up. Actually, we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into when we started and we had only a vague idea of what we hoped to gain. The gentle path we started on was soon surpassed by sharp inclines and eventually steep face-rock. For the record, I did want to make it to the top but I didn’t anticipate the cost of doing so. The best part of the trip? Reaching the peak (barely!) and seeing the blessed tram that would save us from ourselves!

I don’t know that Tim’s entrance into the Kingdom of OneDayBow and the Presence of the King (in Chapter 8 of The Bridge from OneDayBow) compares to our trek. I think his was more thought-out, his pace was probably faster, and his destination clearer to him. His joy and gratitude at seeing the King made our relief at getting on the tram seem trivial!

Suddenly, Tim saw the One who outshines everything!
Nothing had prepared him for the greatness of the King.
As Tim stepped into the light, he easily saw how
Everyone and everything will humbly one day bow.

What he had only heard and read before became real and slightly alarming. When Tim approached the King and understood His greatness; his own limitations and inadequacy became increasingly evident. Tim readily admitted that he had done wrong – he wasn’t worthy to stand in the Presence of the King. The King wasn’t surprised, but neither did He have Tim escorted out. The King’s remedy to the “imperfect”t approaching the “Perfect” was FORGIVENESS – cancellation of the charges against him.

Granted, there were a million reasons that the King could have said “No chance…”, not only because of Tim’s wrongs, but for the wrongs done against Him – yes, all wrong is ultimately against the King – from the beginning of time. And, if He is perfect, why would He want imperfect people in His Kingdom? Oh, the answer is good, so good! so amazing, so…. Let me just give it to you:
You’re able to approach Me in spite of wrong you’ve done,
For I so loved the world that I gave My Only Son.”

Recognize the last line? Yes, John 3:16! Jesus took our sin and its penalty on Himself, to open the way to God the Father. Jesus became The Bridge, paying the full cost.

I can remember being on the road to Jesus. I’d spent time thinking about getting on the road, and a lot of time watching other people who’d already met Him. Ironically, the day I intended to meet the King was only part of the approach. Somehow along the way I had gotten the idea that God was looking for volunteers rather than devoted followers. I thought that He was offering free passes to Heaven, with no obligation and at zero cost to me or to Him. My approach was more like getting in line for a vaccination than humbly seeking acceptance from the Lord of Heaven. As I look back, it was almost as if I was standing outside of a door saying, “Okay, I’ll do you the favor of coming your way” (not put quite so bluntly) rather than asking Him to open the gates of righteousness through Jesus Christ so that I could come in and find forgiveness and acceptance – deliverance from sin and its penalty. If that would have been the end of the story, I wouldn’t be writing this story.

Gratefully I say, God didn’t leave me in a place of self-delusion that “my decision” was the all-important factor. He brought me to see that His decision to send His Son to die for my sins was what made it possible for me to have a decision to make. I knew I needed His grace desperately, and as I saw Him as the Great and Good God that He truly is, He was infinitely beautiful! I can’t tell you the relief and joy I felt when I realized that He chose me before I chose Him. We don’t climb a mountain to God; we met Him when we bow down.