STAND IN THE GAP
“And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none” Ezekiel 22:30
This passage comes at a time when the children of Israel, God’s people were in bondage in the Land of Babylon. Beginning in Ezekiel 22:23, God tells the reason for their bondage. The religious leaders had done violence to God’s law, they made no distinction between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean, they closed their eyes to God law. They said; “Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, when Jehovah hath not spoken.” Now to bring them back, and for their safety God is looking for someone to “stand in the gap”, and build up the wall. Sadly at that time He found none.
The example that God uses is the wall of protection that the cities of that day built around themselves for their protection. If a breach was made, a gap in the wall, the enemy would come through and destruction would follow. How important it was to make sure that if a ‘gap’ developed someone would stand and protect the people. Because if a “gap” was not closed it would become larger.
Much of what God describes there sounds like our nation and our society today. God is still looking for someone to turn the tide of evil and build back the wall of protection that He has given.
Our Wall of Protection is God’s Word! The Bible! There are many places where man and Satan are trying to break through and make “Gaps” in God’s Wall. Our responsibility is to make sure we stand in any gap that man or Satan tries to make. Can God find one to stand in the gap today?
Many of the “gaps” that the world is trying to make today are easy to see. Sin is no longer to be called sin. They come up with different names and different excuses to justify sin. As Isaiah said: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light; and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21).
Today we are in the middle of “Gay Pride Month”. A month that our nation has given to celebrate that which God calls and abomination. As someone has said:
“First we overlook evil. Then we permit evil. Then we legalize evil. Then we promote evil. Then we celebrate evil. Then we persecute those who still call it evil.”
But the world says…..Here Is Their Gap…. “GOD IS LOVE! God Loves Everyone!” And that is true! God love everyone. But the world wants it to say that “God Loves The Sinner, and continues to Love him even if he continues to live in sin. They love to quote John 3;16. Then go to Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” What a wonderful example of the love of God. But we need to read a little farther. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?” God not only expects, but commands that in order to receive His love, the sinner, must leave the sinful life and follow Him. “And such were some of you”(I Cor. 6:9-11).
Another “gap”. Sin that is called by another name: A common practice in our country today is for boys and girls, men and women to live together without marriage. The world calls it LOVE. God calls in FORNICATION! What is God’s judgment for fornication? (I Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19; ) In Revelation chapter 21 God gives us a picture that we might see how beautiful heaven will be. But all will not be permitted to enter: “But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerer, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8).
God is looking for a soldier. God provides everything needed for defense; truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes for your feet and a shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and for offense “The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” As God’s soldier the command is given three times in Eph. 6:10-18. We must take our position in the “gap” and stand! God is looking for someone to stand in the gap, are we that someone, who like Isaiah of old will say…Here am I Lord, send me.”
Frank Briscoe