MIND THE GAP

If you have ever traveled by subway or train or even ridden certain rides at theme parks, you will hear “mind the gap” frequently during the on-boarding and off-boarding process.

Minding the gap came to my mind during a recent visit to the Ark exhibit in Williamstown, Kentucky with my husband, Wes.

This was my first visit to the Ark and I have to say it was impressive! The exhibit’s detailed presentation of possible methods used for food storage, water intake for drinking, waste removal and feeding the animals was impressive. If they are correct, the Ark was not only more than adequate for its task, but also a marvel of engineering.

The displays also included information on comparing the Biblical view of what happened from creation through the Noachian flood with the evolutionary theory. They exposed gaps in the evolutionary theory and its insistence that man progressed from primordial soup to animal to ignorant brute beasts to great thinkers and developers of today.

But the Ark exhibit missed another important gap in Bible history that, to me, exposed its intelligent and scientific explanations of how the Ark could support all that life to ridicule. That gap is the one we find in Genesis 1:1-2.

The Hebrew word “haya” translated “was” here can mean “to become”. When we use become instead of “was” it gives place to a gap between verses 1 and 2 that could hold eons of time and earth-molding events. Events like the rise and fall of Lucifer, the rise and fall of dinosaurs and natural or supernatural trauma that brought the earth to the point of needing a rework to prepare it for the arrival of mankind.

Without this gap, which most of us in the Sabbath-keeping community believe to be true, the Ark Exhibit builders had to put dinosaurs onto the Ark.

Of course, my purpose today is not to disagree with the builders of the Ark Exhibit or anyone else who does not believe in the gap theory of Genesis 1:1-2.

My purpose today is to have us consider how gaps in our Bible knowledge or understanding can cause us problems in our own walk. Some gaps in our Bible knowledge and understanding can cause problems in relationships with both believers and unbelievers and could potentially leave us flat-footed when it comes to being able to preach the gospel effectively or even explain our beliefs.

A couple of scriptures come to mind regarding the need for Bible knowledge and understanding.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Even more troublesome is the fact that gaps in my understanding can cause me to sin out of ignorance.

When we sin out of ignorance, the penalty of God is lighter than a deliberate sin. And that is good for us. But whether a sin is of ignorance or not we are to be rooting it out and removing it from our lives. Not knowing does not excuse us from all penalty.

Luke 12:48 (KJV) But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

To be clear, the Bible is a deep well that can be mined for truth for a lifetime with only scratching the surface. However, we ought to always be minding the gap in our Bible knowledge and ability to explain our beliefs.

Right now, we have a significant gap between the spring Holy days and Pentecost - a gap I could use to challenge ourselves to fill in a gap or two I may have in Bible knowledge. Maybe you’d like to set that goal too.

Sisters, I challenge each of you and I challenge myself to select a Bible topic where I have some gaps in knowledge or understanding and spend some time filling in the gaps. Perhaps you’ll review proofs that the Sabbath is still valid today. Maybe you’ll want to memorize the books of the Bible or gain a thorough understanding of parables of Jesus and how they should impact our lives or do a deep dive into the 10 commandments or the Beatitudes. Get out a concordance - in print or online - and see how the meaning of the Greek or Hebrew words deepens your understanding.

CGI has a variety of resources to help us advance our Bible knowledge. So, do many other corporate and independent churches.

We should also be considering Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV) [As] iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Getting together with fellow believers specifically to study and discuss God’s Word is one way for “iron” to sharpen “iron” and for us to fill in gaps for each other. You could start a Bible study with friends and share knowledge with each other. Or you could challenge a group of friends to memorize scriptures and hold each other accountable.

Sisters, mind the gaps, and fill them in where you can.

If you decide to take me up on the “mind the gap” challenge, please write me and let me know how you decide to do.

I welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. You can write me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.