STANDING IN THE GAP

Ezek. 22:30-31  “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land.  I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.  So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them in the fire of my anger.  I will heap on them the full penalty for all their sins, says the Sovereign LORD.”  NLT

      These verses ought to grab our attention today.  God says He looked for someone to rebuild the wall of righteousness guarding the land, but He could not find anyone.  Look around you.  Is there a need in the land for the walls of righteousness to be rebuilt?  Regardless of where you may live, I am quite sure that there is a desperate need for righteousness all around you.  Without righteousness guarding the land, evil prevails.  All kinds of wickedness run wild where there is no righteousness.  We have seen it in our history books; we see it all around us.  Wickedness rules and God makes it clear that judgment falls on the wicked.                     

       God delays judgment so that people will repent and come to Him, but His patience with wicked man does run out.  He puts up with wicked people just so long and then He steps in and destroys their land.  How long will God put up with the wickedness in your land?  Only God knows when judgment will fall on you.  In the meantime He is looking for someone to stand in the gap for righteousness so He won’t have to destroy your land.  He is looking for us to stand strong for righteousness.  If we are gutless and do not stand, God in His anger will heap on us the full penalty our sins deserve.

      We don’t know if it is too late for us or not, but that is not the point.  God needs us to do what we can to stem the tide of wickedness so that He can delay our punishment.  He has no desire to destroy, but He must if righteousness is not found.  We must set the example of righteousness for others to follow: in our homes, churches, workplaces, and in society as a whole.  If godly people do not let their godliness be seen and known, wickedness will continue to be seen and flourish.  Only the godly can stay the hand of God.  Will you stand in the gap and be a righteous influence in your world?  Will you do your part in rebuilding the wall of righteousness in your land?  Will you be an example for others to follow in godly living? 

        We have no one to blame but ourselves if we don’t let our lights shine in the darkness of the world and things continue to get worse all around us.