Message summary: Tuesday morning we visited the Kinzua Bridge Skywalk in north central PA. It's better than ever as a tourist attraction but it's no longer a bridge after a tornado toppled it in 2003. Today let's consider a timeless bridge that continues to function because it is indestructible and leads to an unshakable kingdom.

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"For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross—whether things on earth or things in heaven. Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him— if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it" (Colossians 1:19-23).

On Tuesday morning of this week my friend Nick and I visited the Kinzua Bridge State Park and Sky Walk during our trip to north central PA. Today we will share several photos from our time there.

The Kinzua Bridge was a railroad trestle that spanned a deep valley over Kinzua Creek in McKean County, PA near Mount Jewett. When we lived in northern Pennsylvania from 1977 through 1993 it was one of the best locations to take visitors for a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains as they walked all the way across the bridge which was 301 feet tall and 2052 feet long.

It was built in 1882, the same year my grandfather was born. It was built by a crew of 40 in just 94 working days, between May 10 and August 29, 1882. At that time the bridge held the record for the tallest railroad bridge in the world and was considered the "eighth wonder of the world".

While living in nearby Elk county we would walk across the bridge, then hike back through the valley which was a much longer walk than the bridge. Since we were quite young and somewhat athletic we did it on occasion as it was breathtaking, not only because of the views, but also it took our breath away due to the strenuous incline.

However in 2003 most of the bridge collapsed after a tornado struck.

Engineers have done a wonderful job of restoring the site and now it is more popular than ever. The remaining part of the bridge, undamaged by the tornado of 2003, was re-imagined as a "sky walk". It ends with an observation deck where you can look down into the valley and see the steel structure upholding the bridge through glass flooring.

You can also look off at the end of the bridge to view the mangled steel now lying as ruins in the valley after the tornado felled 11 of its 20 bridge towers. It's kind of neat that they just left the mess. You can also see the remaining standing part of the bridge on the other side that was previously connected.

It's better than ever as a tourist attraction but it's not a bridge anymore. It has no function in crossing the chasm. Storms have toppled many a bridge but today let's consider a timeless bridge that continues to function because it is indestructible and leads to an unshakable kingdom. It crosses the wide chasm of sin expressed in the song "Living Hope".

Salvation is often graphically depicted as a bridge spanning the chasm that separates sinful man from a holy God. In fact the Navigators, a ministry I have appreciated through the years, has a small tract explaining salvation called "The Bridge To Life" illustrating that a great chasm separates sinful humanity from a holy God. But Jesus Christ, in dying on the cross, bridges that mighty chasm. The cross is God's only appointed means for man to reach Him. It is supremely trustworthy.

Pastor Rich Moore writes, "God is an amazing bridge builder. His Son built a bridge across the grandest canyon known to us. He bridged between us and God, by offering forgiveness and love to us in the free gift of His sacrifice. Jesus built this bridge with only two pieces of wood and three nails."

Thank God that today there is an indestructible bridge to cross that great chasm that lay between us and God.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13