God’s point of view holds prophetic character, it speaks Christ.
God’s position is a priestly position, it offers redemption according to Jesus Christ.
The man called to stand with God, watching the world and its affairs, occasionally being brought close to the beauty of Heaven itself, finds himself to be standing in between two extremely different landscapes. One has lost its beauty and attraction – it is outright dirty. The other is different beyond expression. The man called to stand with God finds himself to be standing in a gap of overwhelming tension. He has seen Heaven, therefore he rejoices in awe. He has been made aware of the absence of Heaven, therefore he carries a burden unto breaking. The position is rarely manned. And God is seeking. . .
The man has seen the face of the Father, the light in His face – “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. The Crystal lake has overtaken his horizon – innocence, the beauty of holiness, truth and humility intertwined. He is made speechless – searching for words forever. The Lamb, slain and resurrected, has invaded his days, filled his days to the brim – changed his outlook and attitude unto priestliness. His appearance brings a message regarding holiness, and its fragrance fills the air – simplicity and beauty.
The prospect and promise of a possibility of a seeing of this kind fills a man’s heart with awe. The reality of entering described by godly men, writing simple diaries, lofty poems, and master pieces of theology lies before us all to stir us to exploits – yet, God is seeking for a man, just one man. Why, why does man hesitate to enter the presence of the Lord? Is the salvation prepared by the Lord, is the covering prepared by the Lord insufficient in any way? Is the tension in the gap, the burden of the Lord too heavy to handle? Are the resources of the Holy Spirit sparse or meager in proportion to the undertaking? Why does God have to look for a man to stand in the gap for the land? Look at the situation from God’s horizon – not one to post in the gap. . .
The man in the gap wrestles with reality – in that sense he is already on his way to become prophetic. The man who is about to take position in the gap is wrestling with the outlook which the Word of God brings – in that sense he is already on his way to become prophetic. The man in the gap must learn a seeing as God sees. The man in the gap identifies with his people in truth and love – for the sake of being able to speak truth intertwined with love, never maudlin, never harsh. His is an avoiding the Ephesian dilemma, which is expressed in the ability to discern what is false, what belongs to the world, without the ability to express love and humility amidst the exposing of falsehood. Heaven, its light, its crystal, its beauty overcomes falsehood. The man in the gap wages a soft war – his weapons are not carnal.
The man in the gap is already a dead man, a crucified man, what will the tension of the gap cost him? He has begun to become horizoned by Christ, what can the world do to him? His service is horizoned by Christ, the crucified Christ, what kind of enemies will have power over him? The man in the gap has defined both the place which he is going to – the heavenly city – and the places he left. Therefore he can freely serve, fully focused on the assignment set before him. He shares the Apostle Paul’s view: “The lightness of our present affliction works out for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory, we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting.” 2 Cor 4:17-18.
But, why are these men so few in number, so difficult to find when needed.
The position is rarely manned. And God is seeking. . .
Lars Widerberg
Reading: Ez 22:30
An excerpt from the notes to a Church in the City, the Big Apple – to Bronx, one of the five Burroughs.
