The Great Depression was a severe, worldwide economic depression that
took place mostly during the 1930’s. It
was the most widespread depression of the 20th-century; an intense
decline of worldwide economy. Financial
instability was at its lowest, as was the morale of every man, woman, boy and
girl.
People, for the most part, was kind natured and considerate of others
though reports say otherwise, but it was only news-media hype trying to sell
papers, while diminishing the good that people were doing for others when the
depression first hit.
My dad, trying to raise three children in a collapsed economy, lost his
job as did many others, but he experienced, first hand, compassion from those
that were bridging the gap of poverty in his community.
Soup kitchens sprang up everywhere, while churches did their best to
help sustain the needs of their congregations; people helping one another to
literally survive. The outpour of help
from neighbors and friends was awe-inspiring, according to Dad.
Another blow that shook the very foundation of our nation was the
series of four coordinated attacks on the United States
I was riveted to the television and witnessed countless people helping
others the day the Twin Towers were hit by two jet aircraft in New York
That sickening day of 9/11 and days following, people were bridging the
gap of fear and fretfulness with encouragement and love like I had never seen
heretofore. People wanted to help, and
they did.
It is when things go South that I am reminded how vulnerable we are
when circumstances beyond our control come our way, like Hurricane Dorian. Recently, this Category 5 hurricane, with 185
mile-an-hour winds, struck the northern Bahamas
Again, I watched communities rally together to bridge the gap on behalf
of people in need. I read that an
individual bought 100 electric generators, food and miscellaneous things from Costco
to assist the Bahamas
It seems when Mother Nature slams into our world of unconcerned
simplicity, she awakens the sleeping nature of mankind. We boast of our strengths, and swank our head
from side to side in the face of other nations, but people everywhere are
predisposed to the fury of title waves, tornadoes, hurricanes, electrical and
hail storms, earthquakes, raging fires, and erupting volcanoes.
When disaster happens, I am happy to say that people are awakened from
their stupor to bridge the gap where tragedy strikes. All for one and one for all is the
underlying, common denominator that brings people together.
(Matthew 10:42) “And whoever gives one of these little ones only
a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he
shall by no means lose his reward.”
My wife and I financially support an organization called, Convoy of
Hope. Wherever calamity and heartbreak
happen, the compassion of this group exceeds wonderment when they reach out to
feed, cloth, and support hurting people.
They are bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots, like a bridge
over troubled water or spanning rugged terrain filled with peril.
They work endlessly to bridge the gap between those people helping and
people needing help. Convoy of Hope is
there meeting the needs and being God’s hand outstretched to hopeless, less
fortunate people.
Helping others is far more rewarding than you might think. I always feel better about myself knowing I
had a part in bringing a glimmer of hope to someone’s heart.
(Acts 20:35) “I have shown you in every way, by laboring
like this, that you must support the weak.
And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more
blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Bridging the gap can be labor intensive at times, but the reward comes
when the need has been met—feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction. The joy of it all is when we choose to
address the gap rather than looking the other way.
(1 John 3:17) “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees
his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God
abide in Him?
(James 4:17) “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and
does not do it, to him it is sin.”
I am talking about bridging the gap, whereas, the gap of sin occurred
in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Sin entered the world, which separated them
from God, which caused all generations to possess the sin nature of Adam—needing
sins forgiven and reconciliation with God.
Since the separation, humanity is attempting to span the gap between
God and man with good works, religion, idealistic philosophy, being a
humanitarian and having compassion for others, but to no avail. Let me explain.
Though these things are commendable and good in themselves, they will
come up short in the end when standing before God, because our righteousness
and good works are not enough, because of sin.
Only the Cross of Calvary can span the
“sin gap.”
If a person knows God, because of a personal relationship with Jesus,
compassion and good works should follow, depending upon the personality of the
person saved. It doesn’t happen
immediately for some people.
It is taking time for me to learn how to treat others, because of my
nature and how I was raised. God is
perfecting me, as He will you, by teaching the importance of representing the
attributes of Christ as a Christian. The
Holy Spirit is helping me to grow daily in the knowledge of Jesus’ character.
No one can span the gap of sin, because of who they are or how much
money they give to charities. There are
many wonderful people that are filled with compassion that are not Believers,
but it is not they that God recognizes; it is Jesus, His Son.
Though countless people give to help others, there is something missing
at the end of the day if they don’t know Jesus as Lord. They lack the peace and true satisfaction
that come when God forgives their sin.
By allowing Jesus to span the gap of sin on their behalf, this act of
faith brings completeness to their life.
It is hard for a person that is good-natured, compassionate, and gives
away from self, to grasp the notion that they are sinners and cannot span the
gap to connect with God even though giving money and time rendered is
exemplary.
(Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.”
If humanity were able to bridge the gap between God and man, Jesus
Christ dying on the cross for our sins would have been in vain. The plan of salvation that God offers is the
only way to be united with Him. There is
no other way. We have no say in the
matter, because we have all sinned and are unclean.
We are in the dispensation of grace, rather than under the Law of Moses. No longer do we depend upon high priests to
sacrifice animals for our sins, because Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God
without moral defect or fault—sinless.
God accepted the death of His Son for the sins of the world. Jesus, bridged the gap of sin, because of
God’s great love for His creation. You
and I are the reason He gave His life on the cross.
(John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.”
God’s grace is sufficient for all sins and any calamity that befalls
us. Thank you, Jesus, for spanning the
gap and making a way, (the only way) for me and the reader of these thoughts. To be born-again (sins forgiven) unites us
with Almighty God. We become children of
God.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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