Waiting for My Husband After the Bridge Collapsed

By: John Piper @ http://www.desiringgod.org

I wrote this poem when I heard of a newlywed waiting for her husband after the bridge collapsed.

Listen

O God, please let him be unconscious,
With his wallet lost, unknown
In some draped cubicle, with nurses
Near, and scrolling through his phone.

You never stayed so late. O Jesus,
I would give this house, and weep
With joy to know he stayed at
Work, until he fell asleep.

It’s midnight. I’m afraid to call, or
Even look too closely at the cars
Above the water, with the broken
Windows, glimpsed between the twisted bars.

I sleep. And you are there, the current
Of the Mississippi in your hair,
Caressed, so still, so still, so breathless,
Love, as when last night I touched you there.

I wake to hear the doorbell ringing.
It is two A. M. And through the hues
Of porch-light, Yes! No matter
What. My pastor always brings good news.

Father of Mercies, God of all Comfort (2 Cor. 1.1-3)

By Sam Storms @ www.enjoyinggodministries.com

What does the church in Minneapolis most need to know about God today? It’s been two days since the collapse of the I-35W bridge (August 1, 2007) and countless people are suffering both physically and emotionally in the aftermath of this devastating event. Some lost family members in this tragedy. Others’ lives were spared but they are hospitalized with a variety of injuries. Those not directly involved, but perhaps friends with those who were, are struggling to make sense of what occurred, asking questions like: “Where was God? Who is God?”

There are any number of answers to my initial question. Some in Minneapolis need to know that not so much as a sparrow falls to the ground apart from our Father in heaven (Matthew 10:29). They, therefore, being “of more value than many sparrows” (v. 31) may rest assured that this event did not catch God by surprise.

Others need to be gently and lovingly reminded that none of us knows “what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:14a). Indeed, “what is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (v. 14b). Instead, they and we “ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that’” (v. 15).

And certainly everyone should stand with confidence and unshakable assurance on this glorious truth, that God orchestrates all things, both blessing and blight, both triumph and tragedy, for the ultimate spiritual good of those who love him and “are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

But perhaps most important of all, the church in Minneapolis and all the saints throughout Minnesota need to know what Paul believed the church “in Corinth” together “with all the saints” who were “in the whole of Achaia” needed to know (2 Corinthians 1:1), namely, that “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”, who is most worthy of the affirmation and proclamation “blessed”, is “the Father of mercies” and the “God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3) “who comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Cor. 1:4a).

Paul didn’t write this in some isolated and insulated ivory tower or from the perspective of a detached and out-of-touch theologian who himself never encountered pain and suffering and the confusion that tragedy so often elicits. He knew what it was like to endure “affliction” (2 Cor. 1:8) and to be “so utterly burdened” beyond one’s strength that the only option left seemed to be death (v. 9a). He had tasted the bitter dregs of “deadly peril” (v. 10) and was well acquainted with the darkness of depression (2 Cor. 7:5-6).

This is a man who had suffered the physical horror of being stoned by an angry mob (Acts 14:19) and had felt the relentless emotional pressure of responsibility for the welfare of others (2 Cor. 11:28). The counsel that I bring you today comes from a man who had endured “far more imprisonments” and “countless beatings” and was “often near death” (2 Cor. 11:23). Five times he had been thrashed with thirty-nine blows, three times was beaten with rods, not to mention having endured shipwreck and countless other dangers from both friend and foe (2 Cor. 11:25-26). He knew “toil and hardship” and sleepless nights, even hunger and exposure to the elements (2 Cor. 11:27).

So, when Paul the “apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (2 Cor. 1:1a) describes our heavenly Father as one who is the source of mercy and the fount of all comfort, we need to take heed, for he knows whereof he speaks.

I suppose some in Minneapolis might be inclined to curse God for what transpired on August 1^st. But as counter-intuitive as it seems, Paul declares him “blessed” (2 Cor. 1:3), as one to be thanked and adored and praised! One would almost think Paul had read the book of Job: “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’” (Job 1:20-21).

There are two things in particular on which we need to focus in this passage. First, when Paul says that God is the “Father of mercies” and “God of all comfort”, he means more than simply that mercy and comfort come from God. Yes, God most assuredly dispenses these wonderful blessings, but Paul is more concerned to tell us something about God’s character, his personality, the disposition and inclination of his heart. In other words, we should read this passage something along the lines of: “the Father who is characterized by mercy” and “the God whose heart delights in giving comfort.”

Yes, of course Paul is describing what God does. But even more foundational is what he says concerning who God is or what he is like. This is his nature, says Paul, his personality, not simply his performance. What he does is a reflection of who he is, and he is above all else characterized by tender-hearted compassion and gentleness and love and a passionate desire to encourage and strengthen those who are suffering hardship and hurt.

The second thing to note is the comprehensive scope of God’s merciful and compassionate nature, for he is the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Cor. 1:3b-4a). The former phrase points to the fact that comfort of every kind comes from the heart of our Father. Whatever sort of comfort is needed, whatever its nature, you can trust God to be in plentiful supply. Murray Harris suggests that the word “all” may have a “temporal connotation, ‘ever ready to console’ (TCNT), ‘whose consolation never fails us!’ (NEB, REB); it may also denote the comprehensiveness of God’s compassion, ‘who gives every possible encouragement’ (NJB). In accordance with his limitless compassion (cf. Ps. 145:9; Mic. 7:19), God provides his people with never-failing comfort of every variety (cf. Isa. 40:1; 51:3,12; 66:13)” (142-43).

And just how does God do this? What could he possibly say to us that would have this effect? Perhaps he brings to mind David’s declaration: “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you’” (Ps. 16:2). Or maybe Asaph’s affirmation: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Ps. 73:25). Or Paul’s promise: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword, [or collapsing bridges]? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:35,37).

I can’t begin to know what those in Minneapolis are suffering, and I certainly don’t intend to pontificate with pious words spoken from the comfort and safety of my own circumstances. But this I do know and can say with all confidence: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion [not physical life or health or wealth],’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

20 Minutes of Uncertainty

Jon Bloom, Executive Director of Desiring God in Minneapolis, shares his personal story, reflecting on the 20 minutes of uncertainty he faced the evening that I-35W bridge collapsed.

"Lest You Be Consumed" -- The Tragedy in Minneapolis

By Albert Mohler @ http://www.albertmohler.com

The scenes from Minneapolis are frightening, tragic, and sobering. In this age of technological marvels and engineering achievements we expect buildings to stay on the ground, airplanes to stay in the air, and bridges to stay in place. The sudden and catastrophic collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis -- just as rush hour was coming to a close -- challenges some of our most comforting assumptions.

We drive across bridges, enter tall skyscrapers, board commercial aircraft, and perform any number of daily tasks as if there was no danger involved in the equation. We have come to trust architects and engineers to do their jobs and we place a great deal of confidence in inspectors, standards, and testing. Those driving across that bridge on Wednesday evening had every reason to give the bridge itself little thought . . . until it fell.

The extent of the human tragedy is not yet fully known. The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting 9 persons dead, 60 injured, and 20 missing at present. Given the circumstances, the twenty missing persons are unlikely to be alive. Approximately fifty cars went down with the bridge, along with construction workers working on the structure.

Christians will be praying for the citizens of the Twin Cities, and especially for those with loved ones directly involved in this tragedy. We should pray for the churches of Minneapolis and pray that God will use faithful churches to minister grace and truth amidst this tragedy and turmoil.

The people who drove onto that bridge had no advance warning of its collapse. They made no conscious decision to embrace danger or to put their lives on the line. Experience and reason have trained us all to trust what looks solid and stable -- and that bridge looked solid and stable up until it fell.

This is a metaphor for our lives and spiritual peril, as Jonathan Edwards so clearly understood. In his famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards made this point with clarity and power:

It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances. The manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world. The unseen, unthought-of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable. Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they will not bear their weight, and these places are not seen. The arrows of death fly unseen at noon-day; the sharpest sight cannot discern them.

The ways and means of persons suddenly passing out of this world are indeed "innumerable and inconceivable," and the tragedy in Minneapolis is yet another reminder of this sobering truth.

As Edwards reminded his hearers:

And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God's word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others. Men's hearts harden, and their guilt increases apace at such a day as this, if they neglect their souls; and never was there so great danger of such persons being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind. God seems now to be hastily gathering in his elect in all parts of the land; and probably the greater part of adult persons that ever shall be saved, will be brought in now in a little time, and that it will be as it was on the great out-pouring of the Spirit upon the Jews in the apostles' days; the election will obtain, and the rest will be blinded. If this should be the case with you, you will eternally curse this day, and will curse the day that ever you was born, to see such a season of the pouring out of God's Spirit, and will wish that you had died and gone to hell before you had seen it. Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of John the Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the root of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth good fruit, may be hewn down and cast into the fire.

Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed."

Lesson of the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

From http://fide-o.blogspot.com

Jesus said in Luke 13:4-5 - "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

John Piper Says:

Jesus implies that those who brought him this news thought he would say that those who died, deserved to die, and that those who didn’t die did not deserve to die. That is not what he said. He said, everyone deserves to die. And if you and I don’t repent, we too will perish. This is a stunning response. It only makes sense from a view of reality that is radically oriented on God.

All of us have sinned against God, not just against man. This is an outrage ten thousand times worse than the collapse of the 35W bridge. That any human is breathing at this minute on this planet is sheer mercy from God. God makes the sun rise and the rain fall on those who do not treasure him above all else. He causes the heart to beat and the lungs to work for millions of people who deserve his wrath. This a view of reality that desperately needs to be taught in our churches, so that we are prepared for the calamities of the world.

The meaning of the collapse of this bridge is that John Piper is a sinner and should repent or forfeit his life forever. That means I should turn from the silly preoccupations of my life and focus my mind’s attention and my heart’s affection on God and embrace Jesus Christ as my only hope for the forgiveness of my sins and for the hope of eternal life. That is God’s message in the collapse of this bridge. That is his most merciful message: there is still time to turn from sin and unbelief and destruction for those of us who live. If we could see the eternal calamity from which he is offering escape we would hear this as the most precious message in the world.

Tonight across the Twin Cities families are wondering if they will ever kiss a loved one good night again. Some will not. I am praying that they will find Jesus Christ to be their Rock and Refuge in these agonizing hours of uncertainty and even loss.

The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible. There may be two reasons. One is that God doesn’t build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2). They may drown you. But I will be with you in life and death.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Killed all day long. But not separated from Christ. We go through the river. Not over it. He went before us, crucified. He came out on the other side. He knows the way through. With him we will make it. That is the message we have for the precious sinners in the Twin Cities. He died for your sins. He rose again. He saves all who trust him. We die, but because of him, we do not die.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

Weeping with those who weep, and those who should,
Pastor John
Psalm 71:20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again.

Spurgeon Says:

Remember those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell. Do not think, then, that this is an age in which God is dealing more harshly with us than of old. Do not think that God’s providence has become more lax than it was, there always were sudden deaths, and there always will be.

There always were seasons when death’s wolves hunted in hungry packs, and, probably, until the end of this dispensation, the last enemy will hold his periodic festivals, and glut the worms with the flesh of men. Be not, therefore, cast down with any sudden fear, neither be ye troubled by these calamities. God has not thrown up the reins of the world, he has not taken off his hand from the helm of the great ship, still

“He everywhere hath sway,
And all things serve His might;
His every act pure blessing is,
His path unsullied light.”

Only learn to trust him, and thou shalt not be afraid of sudden fear; “thy soul shall dwell at ease, and thy seed shall inherit the earth.”

The particular subject of this morning, however, is this — the use which we ought to make of these fearful texts which God is writing in capital letters upon the history of the world... let us do two things.

First, let us not be so foolish as to draw the conclusion of superstitious and ignorant persons — that conclusions which is hinted at in the text, namely, that those who are thus destroyed by accident are sinners above all the sinners that be in the land.

And, secondly, let us draw the right and proper inference, let us make practical use of all these events for our own personal improvement, let us hear the voice of the Savior saying, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

I. First, then, Let Us Take Heed That We Do Not Draw The Rash And Hasty Conclusion From Terrible Accidents, That Those Who Suffer By Them Suffer On Account Of Their Sins.

Brethren, we assert daily, with Scripture for our warrant, that God is just, and inasmuch as he is just, he must punish sin, and reward the righteous. Manifestly he does not do it in this world. I think I have plainly shown that in this world, one event happens to both; that the righteous man is poor as well as the wicked, and that he dies suddenly as well as the most graceless. Very well, then, the inference is natural and clear, that there most be a next world in which these things must be righted.

If there be a God, he must be just; and if he be just, he must punish sin; and since he does not do it in this world, there therefore must be another state in which men shall receive the due reward of their works, and they that have sown to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, while they that have sown to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Make this world the reaping place, and you have taken the sting out of sin.

II. Now to our second point. What Use, Then, Ought We To Make Of This Voice Of God As Heard Amidst The Shrieks And Groans Of Dying Men?

Two uses; first, inquiry, and secondly, warning.

The first inquiry we should put to ourselves is this: “Why may it not be my case that I may very soon and suddenly be cut off? Have I a lease of my life? Have I any special guardianship which ensures me that I shall not suddenly pass the portals of the tomb? Have I received a charter of longevity? Have I been covered with such a coat of armor that I am invulnerable to the arrows of death? Why am not I to die?”

And the next question it should suggest is this: “Are not I as great a sinner as those who died? Are there not with me, even with me, sins against the Lord my God? If in outward sin others have exceeded me, are not the thoughts of my heart evil? Does not the same law which curses them curse me? I have not continued in all the things that are written in the book of the law to do them. It is as impossible that I should be saved by my works as that they should be. Am not I under the law as well as they by nature, and therefore am not I as well as they under the curse? That question should arise. Instead of thinking of their sins which would make me proud, I should think of my own which will make me humble. Instead of speculating upon their guilt, which is no business of mine, I should turn my eyes within and think upon my own transgression, for which I must personally answer before the Most High God.”

Then the next question is, “Have I repented of my sin? I need not be inquiring whether they have or not: have I? Since I am liable to the same calamity, am I prepared to meet it? Have I felt, through the Holy Spirit’s convincing power, the blackness and depravity of my heart? Have I been led to confess before God that I deserve his wrath, and that his displeasure, if it light on me, will be my just due? Do I hate sin? Have I learned to abhor it? Have I, through the Holy Spirit, turned away from it as from a deadly poison, and do I seek now to honor Christ my Master? Am I washed in his blood? Do I bear his likeness? Do I reflect his character? Do I seek to live to his praise? For if not, I am in as great danger as they were, and may quite as suddenly be cut off, and then where am I? I will not ask where are they?

And then, again, instead of prying into the future destiny of these unhappy men and women, how much better to inquire into our own destiny and our own state!

“What am I? my soul, awake,
And an impartial survey take.”

Am I prepared to die? If now the gates of hell should be opened, shall I enter there? if now beneath me the wide jaws of death should gape, am I prepared with confidence to walk through the midst of them, fearing no evil, because God is with me?

This is the proper use to make of these accidents; this is the wisest way to apply the judgments of God to our own selves and to our own condition.

(The above sermon, entitled Accidents, Not Punishments, was preached by Charles Spurgeon on September 8, 1861)