He Who Stands In The Gap

He Who Stands In The Gap

I don’t want to make any light-hearted comparisons, but I am always amazed at the loving and relatable ways the Lord helps me understand things. Perhaps it is just because I am a simple-minded guy in many ways and He knows I will connect the dots better with relatable imagery. But as I was studying, pondering and praying this morning, and feeling grateful for my Savior, some impressions came to my mind.

What came to me was the scene from the Lord of the Rings, when the fellowship are fleeing the mines of Moria, and are being pursued by the ancient demon, called the Balrog. The company is fleeing across a narrow bridge as the demon is about to overtake them. But in this company of little hobbits and mortal men, is a powerful wizard, named Gandalf. At this pivotal moment, Gandalf stops upon the narrow bridge to confront the fiery beast, standing between the demon and his friends.

Holding a sword in one hand and his staff in the other, he proclaims… no commands… “You shall not pass!!!”

Single-handedly he battles the demon and falls through deep caverns, and is wounded, but eventually emerges from that battle, having slain the Balrog, and having transformed himself from Gandalf the Gray… into Gandalf the White.

In this simple literary and cinematic imagery which came to my mind, the Lord showed me how He stands in the narrow way, between myself and the fiery adversary we would call, the devil. He alone held in his hands the power and ability to command death and hell proclaiming, “You shall not pass!!!” With a sword and staff, he conquered both physical death through the resurrection and spiritual death through His atoning sacrifice. He was willing to condescend and descend through the depths of hell to overcome the darkest of foes, and emerged from the pit a resurrected and glorified Being of pureness.

"He Lives" by Simon Dewey

And even still, like Gandalf the White in the story, He is willing to continue to ride into battle with us in our personal battles against our enemies in the daily walk of life…. Right down in the trenches with us in all the dirty muck of it all. All so he can teach us how to be warriors, how to conquer our fears, and how to become worthy of the crown He so longingly wants to place upon us in His Kingdom.

I am so grateful for my “Gandalf the White”, my Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ!!!

Through my covenants with Him, He stands in the breach between me and the foul demon. He was willing to take my blows, whips and suffering upon Himself… all so that He could lead me towards learning to become a King myself and inheriting a throne in His kingdom.

Oh, how my heart rejoices because of Him! That humble Babe in a manger, once wrapped in simple swaddling cloth, who now stands in royal robes of White! All honor and glory be to Him! He is ever worthy of all our adoration and devotion!