Minding the Gap

“I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves.” Rom. 6:19‘Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Rom. 8:5

About 7 years ago, Bruce and I went to Brussels as he was invited to speak to a group of people in the nuclear field. We were very excited as this was one of the first clients when he started the new business. (Actually, it was one of the only clients that year!) On our way we decided to stay a few nights in London so we could do a little sightseeing. Whenever we would board the underground transportation system this lady’s voice in a beautiful English accent would caution, ‘Mind the gap.’ This was a warning to watch where you were stepping since there was an open space between the platform of the concrete and the floor of the subway. This gap could be a means to stumble or fall.

Where was my bold warning to ‘mind the gap’ when approaching my own sinful nature? We all have a gap in our hearts being of the flesh, our natural selves. For me, it has always been the hunger for approval which in my belief meant approval equaled love. Feeding the feelings of our natural self will always result in missteps and stumbles. We will fall into the gap separating ourselves from the higher nature only attained and accessed through God.

Joanna Weaver writes in Having a Mary Spirit, ‘For there is nothing like adversity to reveal what we’re made of. In fact, I am convinced that trouble and stress are two of the most common ways God shows us the weakness of our flesh and the futility of our self-efforts. In His mercy, He often allows stress to build up until the weak areas in our lives begin to give way under pressure.’ p. 60

For me, my gap was filled with the hunger to be hero for acceptance and taking credit for my activities for approval. This insatiable thirst for the flesh can never be met by the flesh – man. When Christ hung on the cross only to be victorious in resurrection, He filled this gap and bridged the way from the lower into the higher.

Look for the warnings to ‘mind the gap’ so you will not stumble or fall.