My wife, Jan, and I have visited London several times. On our first visit, we noticed something we had never seen before. It was a sign painted on the platform of the train station that read, “Mind the Gap.” The sign is a warning to train passengers to be careful when stepping across the gap between the train and the station platform. If the train is in the station not minding the gap could twist an ankle. If an incoming train was not stopping, failing to remain behind the gap line could get a person killed.
In all areas of life, we need to wisely mind the gap between what is true and what is false, between what is acceptable or not, and between what will honor the Lord or bring dishonor to His name. A life without these gaps is a tragic story of compromise and defeat that destroys one’s spiritual life, their most intimate relationships and becomes a sad witness that someone has yet to learn what it means to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
One chapter in Scripture addresses such gaps. We could call Ephesians chapter 5 “The Mind the Gap Chapter.” Here are some excerpts defining what minding the gap looks like in the life of a believer.
“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God” (Ephesians 5: 3-4).
“Do not let anyone fool you by telling you things that are not true, because these things will bring God’s anger on those who do not obey him. So have nothing to do with them” (vs. 6-7).
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (vs. 11-12).
Our character matters. Character is what carries our anointing long term. It keeps our marriages in the safe and holy union God intended. Character models for our children that we are submitted to God, not our flesh or the appeals of a culture descending deeper into darkness.
We need to constantly mind the gap because the trains of hell are always passing through the terminal of our lives. Stepping across the line can bring a premature end to a life and calling that had great potential in God’s Kingdom.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by Greg Plominski from Pixabay
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