Ferdinand de Lesseps

Before 1869 when traveling by ship, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea
seemed "worlds apart." However, by land, the two seas were only about 100
miles apart.

Brett Petrillo reports that in 1832, a man by the name of Ferdinand de
Lesseps was sailing to Egypt when people in his crew became very sick.
Everyone on the ship was quarantined. While in quarantine, Ferdinand de
Lesseps was sent books by a friend.

These books, combined with his current situation and the tough reality of
sailing, sparked an idea. Ferdinand de Lesseps decided to make a canal
in-between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. *

In 1854, de Lesseps, the former French consul to Cairo, secured an agreement
with the Ottoman governor of Egypt to build a canal 100 miles across the
Isthmus of Suez, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. An international
team of engineers drew up a construction plan, and in 1856 the Suez Canal
Company was formed. Construction began in April 1859. At first digging was
done by hand with picks and shovels utilized by forced laborers, but later
European workers with dredgers and steam shovels arrived. On November 17,
1869, the Suez Canal was opened to navigation. The canal dramatically
reduced the danger and sailing time between the two seas and opened up a
whole new world of opportunities.

In one respect, man is not far from God "for in Him we live and move and
have our being" (Acts 17:28). Yet when it comes to a relationship between
the Holy God and sinful man, we are "worlds apart." It is SIN that
separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).
But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to provide a way of
reconciliation between man and God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Jesus had to
die on the cross for our sins in order to reconcile man to God (Ephesians
1:7). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

We access the Way to reconciliation to God and to eternal life by: placing
our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Our sins cause us to be "worlds apart" from God. But God's love provided a
Channel by which we may be reconciled to Him and receive the gift of eternal
life.

Jesus provided the "New and Living Way" to God by shedding His blood so that
our sins can be washed away (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Won't YOU accept His offer of reconciliation and life on His terms?

David A. Sargent