Mind the Gap, Part 2
Recall that in my last blog I said, “If you have ever ridden a subway train in any country, you’ve seen the signs and heard the announcements to ‘mind the gap’ when entering and exiting the train. These warnings refer to the gap between the platform and the train, which is a trip hazard and has the potential catch a heal or stroller wheel and get you stuck for a bit.”
I spoke about standing in the gap for this world. This time I want to talk about watching for the potential of gaps in our own lives between who we say we are and how we live our lives.
In Psalm 15, David asks the question, “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?”. And then he answers that question with notes on what kind of person can be a “tabernacle dweller”.
Let’s start by looking at the latter part of verse 4. Psalm 15:4 [NKJV] He [who] swears to his own hurt and does not change.
One who dwells with God (for that is the definition of a tabernacle dweller – a holy hill dweller) is someone who backs up her words with actions.
Wes and I watch the series “Flash”. The “Team Flash” folks do their best to be good, do good, and save others from evil. But they are always saying things like “I will keep you safe, I promise”. Quite often, circumstances conspire to make that statement a lie. It reminds me of James 5:12.
James 5:12 [NLT] But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.
James warns against swearing to something, from the standpoint of the fact that Christians need to be people who don’t need to swear to be believed. As a Christian, my reputation for honoring my commitments needs to be such that a “yes” or “no” is enough.
James also outlines another reason why we should not swear to something. James 4:13-15 [ESV] 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
We need to acknowledge that, as Christians, it is God’s will that establishes the path of our lives, and not our own plans. Paul understood that God’s path or plan may not be the same as what he wanted.
1 Corinthians 4:19 [NKJV] But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
Of course, the deadliest gap would be a gap between calling myself a Christian but living so that my words or actions show a gap between that claim and reality.
We all sin and fall short. So, Christianity isn’t never sinning, it is continual progress toward better representing Jesus on this earth and it is owning and admitting when we do trip up, showing humility and asking forgiveness – not just of God, but also anyone we have hurt or shown non-Christian behavior too (even if we didn’t hurt them).
Psalm 15:4 [NKJV] He [who] swears to his own hurt and does not change.
Psalm 15 shows us some other behaviors that either support our claims to dwell with God – to be Christian – or show a gap.
Psalm 15:1-5 [NKJV] 1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He [who] does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He [who] swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He [who] does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these [things] shall never be moved.
Honoring others who fear the Lord, walking uprightly and speaking truth are just a few of the items mentioned.
Jesus repeatedly talked about loving your neighbor and loving your enemies. In Matthew 25, He also outlined behaviors of His sheep who will get to enter the Kingdom. His response to “who will dwell in Your holy hill” is that it would be those who saw the physical needs of others and did their best to fill those needs.
These are the things we should consider when minding the gap between a claim to be a Christian and the actual words, deeds and commitments we make in our lives.
I’ll present my final thoughts on the theme of “Minding the Gap” in my next blog. Until then, I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.