I looked for a man 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 none. –Ezekiel 22:30
I have read that many years ago when the North American continent was first being settled that Buffalo roamed in herds too numerous to count. It has been said that when they crossed the valleys of the west that they would cover the ground as far as the eye could see. Today, if you see a Buffalo it is a rarity. We want to stop and look because we so seldom see them and they have become so scarce.
In the book of Ezekiel the Lord said that He looked far and wide to find someone who would take up the responsibility of being a defender of faith, righteousness, godliness, and the commandments. Someone was needed to stand in the gap and hold back the coming wrath that was about to be poured out upon the people. However, no such faithful person could be found. The faithful and righteous had become as scarce as the Buffalo of the American west. How it must have grieved the heart of God to find such faithlessness among His people. What do you think God is seeing when He looks upon the world today? Is He seeing faithfulness, or have the righteous and faithful, those who seek the Lord, become a rarity? If we truly desire that revival come to our country and to the world, then we must pray that peoples’ hearts will be open to a wondrous and blessed movement of God’s Spirit.
Even in a world where godly and sincere followers of Christ are becoming scarce we can experience a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is ever calling us to deeper faith and commitment to Him. When we take up that challenge and resolve to be the one willing to stand in the gap then the result is personal renewal. From this personal revival a tide of faith will flow affecting everyone around us. The Lord is calling us to be faithful. Who will stand in that gap?
