Does God Want Me
to Stand in the Gap?
I looked for someone among them who would build up the
wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have
to destroy it, but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV)
Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary
for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” God is always in search
of men and women He can use for His service, but sometimes we are hit with a
sense of insignificance, thinking, I am just one person. What can I do? We may
easily underestimate what one person can accomplish, but God never does. One
godly man or woman, boy or girl, can make a dramatic difference in the world,
if that person is willing to step out in faith and humility, allowing God to
use them.
Ezekiel was a prophet to those who were
taken captive during the Babylonian invasion. Through Ezekiel, God explained
why He was allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed. He said the people had rebelled,
the leaders were abusing their power (Ezekiel 22:27), the priests failed to
point the way (22:26), and—the icing on the cake—the prophets were covering up
the sins of the priests (22:28). God searched but found no one who was willing to
stand up for what was right and lead the people into a life of pure and holy
worship of Him. Ezekiel pointed out the tragedy of a society in which no one
can be found to stand up and be counted for God (22:30).
We may feel that if we stand for God, we
are just one in a sea of people going the other direction. We can be left asking,
“What is the point of standing up against such an overwhelming tide?” But with
God, even one individual can make a difference. When all else fails and everyone
else is going his or her own way, God is still looking for that one lone person
who will stand for Him.
If God were to search around the globe
today, would He find anyone willing to stand in the gap? Willing to stand and
intercede for people in need? Willing to stand for righteousness? You might be
the only Christian in your family, the only Christian in your workplace, the
only Christian in your classroom, or the only Christian in your neighborhood.
But God may have you there for a reason, and He may be asking, “Will you take a
stand for Me where I have you?” God may have placed you exactly where you are
so that you can be a godly encouragement in the lives of the people in your
world of influence and help lead others into a life of pure and holy worship of
Him.
Standing alone is never easy, and being
the first one to stand up can be intimidating. But your stance may be what
others need in order to see their need to turn to God. And who knows? As you
stand up, others may be inspired to stand with you. No one can predict the
impact that one person can have when they decide to stand for God. But never
underestimate what God may want to do through your life if you simply stand in
the gap. Edward Everett Hale put it well: “I am only one; but still I am one. I
cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do
everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
This message could not have come at the right time.
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