Program Transcript
Episode 18: Living in the Gap
Heather M R Olsen
Welcome back listeners. I’m so glad you are here!
Before I get started, I wanted to ask each of you today to share Illumination: Hebrew Insights with someone you love.
If you recall from podcast 1, I do have goals.
Summary:
1 – Share the Gospel message, as the entire Bible is about Jesus.
2 – Get people back to reading the Bible. It’s exciting and true and relevant. The Bible guides us in knowing God, His character, and His plan of redemption for humanity.
3 – To read the Bible in its original, historical and translational form. Translations are biased and things have been misinterpreted – consequently, it’s important to go back to the beginning.
You can find them not just on my website, Illuminationhebrewinsights.com, but wherever you listen to your favorite music or podcasts:
Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeart and Podbean are just a few.
Just open them up, and search for Illumination: Hebrew insights. If you click on the “plus” button, you can follow me. With “following,” you will get notifications when each new podcast is posted.
Anyhow,
I wanted to give some encouragement today. Our communities, especially in the western world, seem to have escalated hate and anger, a widening gap of two sides in our cultures and it is disconcerting. Some of us have hit a point of alarm, way past worry. Social media posts can be vindictive or divisive. We may want to respond, taking the low road.
But let’s take a moment to reset what we are doing here on earth, and that nothing going on in our world is a surprise to God. And if you claim to be a believer in Jesus the Messiah, you & I are called to something greater than engaging in dissent.
Think about the first century, when Jesus broke into history. The Romans occupied Judea and much of the known world. They were sadistic and controlling, their execution methods tortuous for non-Roman citizens. The Romans’ brutality was well known throughout the empire.
It was also a terrible time to be a First Century Jew.
Then Jesus entered humanity, he talked about inaugurating the Kingdom of God; or, the Kingdom of Heaven.
This 1st century generation was chosen by God, to quote the book of Esther, “for such a time as this.”
The moment had come for the Messiah’s entrance, not as the Warrior King, as many of the 1st century Jewish people desired, but as the Suffering Servant.
But, a quick aside: the phrases “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are synonymous but written by different Gospel writers.
Gospel writer Luke wrote about the “Kingdom of God.” Scholars disagree whether Luke was a Jesus-believing Gentile, or a Hellenized Jew, but he wrote his letter to Gentile believers. Personally, based on the evidence that no self-respecting observant Jew would say the name “God” aloud nor write it, I think he was most likely a Gentile convert.
Gospel writer Matthew wrote about the “Kingdom of Heaven,” which “Heaven” was used as a substitute for “God.” Again, speaking the LORD’s name was taboo (and still is among many observant Jewish communities). Remember in podcast 3, God’s proper name is substituted in the Hebrew Bible to all capital letters, LORD? The Christian Old Testament has followed suit. Matthew was Jewish and wrote to Jewish believers, therefore refrained from using God’s name in any form.
Alternative terms to talk about God were subsequently developed, like Matthew’s use of “Heaven” or LORD which is Adonai in Hebrew, or a contemporary Hebrew title HaShem, which means “The Name.” This rabbinic tradition is based on the commandment that, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7 Rather than risk saying God’s name improperly or flippantly, His name was neither written nor spoken.
Thinking out loud, perhaps we all should take that commandment to heart.
In fact, I’m thinking this is where the phrases, “Thank Heavens,” or “Heaven Forbid,” or “My Heavens,” or even “My stars,” have come from. My grandma used to say them.
But back to Jesus arriving on earth and Him inaugurating this Kingdom.
What does that mean?
Luke wrote about Jesus’ mission in Luke 4:43. “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Jesus also shared two very short parables with lasting impact to illustrate the Gospel message and how it was to expand.
Luke 13:18-2118 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Jesus’ message and ministry began small yet was to grow exponentially.
The prayer he taught us to pray, which we call The Lord’s Prayer, can be found in Matthew 6:9-13, but the phrase, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” spelled out for the 1st century disciples and for us today—that we are to do God’s will here on earth.
Today and every day.
Our obedient imitating of Jesus and reflecting his message and life will result in Fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
This is a cause and effect. We reflect Jesus’ words; we develop this fruit.
Ephesians 4:22-24 is a great outline for how we are to live. Here is a snippet:
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
This was during a horrific time of persecution in the Roman empire.
We are created to be like God.
Righteousness is being free from guilt or sin. (Merriam Webster)
Holiness is being set apart, special, different.
As believers we are to become like Jesus, and this journey is life-long.
Luke 6:40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
That’s us!
We have the promise of eternity with Jesus. This will happen spiritually, at our death, but physically after Jesus’ return as the Warrior King, to set up the New Heaven and the New Earth.
That was a mouthful, and if you are new to the faith, or are just learning, it may sound preposterous. Keep seeking. There is a promise in Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Keep seeking, those learning about our God.
Here on earth, we seem to be in a continual state of waiting, but as we wait, we are to be busy about our work.
- Baby coming.
- Medical test results.
- Chemotherapy to take root.
- Medications to take over.
- Christmas to COME!
- Retirement date.
- Guests to arrive.
- Asking someone to homecoming. A couple seconds pass but can feel like hours!
- Sending a contentious email – asking for a raise, or quitting a job – and waiting for a response?
- War to be over.
- Ill parent to die.
- Waiting in line to get on a roller coaster.
- Waiting to see what grade I will progress to.
- What part I got in the school play.
Great emotion can surround this waiting—
Excitement. Fear. Grief. Relief. Anxiety.
Waiting usually involves expecting something.
A change. A result. Something bad to happen. Something good to happen.
We wait on the LORD.
We discussed prayer in podcast 17. Praying is powerful, but we don’t always get what we want; or, we don’t get it right away. We can read about many biblical instances of people praying and having to wait.
You can find all the references in the transcript on my website:
IlluminationHebrewInsights.com
Psalm 5:3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.
Psalm 38:15 Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.
Isaiah 30:18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.
Lamentations 3:26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
And a myriad of more waiting. We aren’t the only ones who have had to wait.
In this waiting, is the gap; you & I are living in an Already, Not Yet state.
I learned this term from a professor about 5 years ago.
Jesus has already come. He inaugurated His Kingdom here on earth. As believers, we are to usher this kingdom or propagate it.
YET, Jesus is coming again. One last time. One day we will be part of the new creation!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
When we become believers in Jesus and his saving life, we become new people. This is the Kingdom of God here on earth. Our helper and internal transformer is the Holy Spirit. Consequently, our actions and words are to reflect this new creation inside.
Colossians 3:9-11 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Though, despite this kingdom of God here on earth, life is still flawed—there is still illness, evil, death.
Jesus did not heal everyone or cast out every demon.
Jesus didn’t raise everyone who died, or restore sight to all the blind. This evidence is in the four Gospels.
Even the apostle Paul, who had spread the Good News of Jesus to many Gentile nations, had a “thorn in his flesh” that God chose not to heal.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Even Creation struggles:
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
I know for certain that Creation is currently flawed.
Every time I weed my garden in the spring. The thistles!
Or get stung by a wasp.
Or a branch falls from our cottonwood tree.
Or worse: a tornado, tsunami, flood, earthquake, drought, famine wreaks havoc on humanity.
Jesus will come again, so we wait in this Not Yet phase.
Or in the gap.
This future one day, He will make all things new and restore us to the days of the Garden.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Jesus tenderly advised in,
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Yet, the Bible is full of Biblical tensions.
I even have a document with a list of them; and it’s growing. That is for another podcast, but we know for certain, even as believers, we will continue to have earthly struggles that are accompanied by biblical promises.
So are we being disobedient or unfaithful if we hang onto worry? Anxiety? Frustration? Disillusionment?
Jesus acknowledged in John 16:33 that, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
He knew and he knows.
We can read a reminder from Peter in 1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
How do we permanently access Jesus’ Peace—this promised Shalom?
How do you and I live in the gap? He has come. He is coming.
We wait until the day when all things will be made new.
Here are some Scripture passages:
Phil 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
That is one of my favorite Bible verses—and so prescriptive.
Whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, think about these things and put them into practice!
That would be an amazing meditation practice!
So what do we have to look forward to? When we reach the YET stage? When the Messiah comes again as a Warrior King?
2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
He will make all things new. We are told in
Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
What does “all things new” mean?… and this is our living in the balance part.
Let’s begin at the Beginning:
Genesis 2:8-10
8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters
Genesis 3:8
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
In the Garden, life was idyllic. The plants were cared for and beautiful and delicious. God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in this Garden. This beautiful, weedless, wasp-less, deathless Garden was Perfect. It contained the Tree of Life of which Adam and Eve freely ate from. Until their disobedience.
But God promised that this is not the end of the story for humanity. The mess we daily live in is temporary. He promised through the prophet Isaiah,
Isaiah 65:17 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
Also,
Isaiah 66:22-23
22 “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. 23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.
God also promised that
2 Corinthians 5:1-3 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
Nobody said this world would be easy. Peter acknowledged in
2 Peter 3:13-14 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
And then Revelation 21
Revelation 21:1-3 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
God will walk and talk with humans again. He will dwell with us.
No more tears, death, crying, pain. What a promise.
Believers sometimes ask if dogs will go to heaven. Remember that the Bible is a book of faith for the human’s journey and reconciliation with God through Jesus. Consequently, it doesn’t outwardly speak of the destination of our pets.
I have a friend, Katie, who has kept track of many references in the Bible where animals are recorded.
I love:
Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
God created animals and put them in the perfect garden. They weren’t predatory. And one day, predators won’t hurt us anymore.
God saved animals in the flood narrative with Noah.
Isaiah prophesied that there will
Isaiah 60:18-21
No longer will violence be heard in your land,
nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
and your gates Praise.
19 The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end.
21 Then all your people will be righteous
and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor.
And one day, as Paul wrote his final words to his friend Timothy
2 Timothy 4:8-9 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
What will this day look like?
Revelation 7:15-17
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Rev 21:22-25
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
Rev 22:1-5
The river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Rev 22:12-13 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
It sounds glorious and bright!
So, what does this have to do with us and our world and worry and governments we may not like.
In regards to our culture and leaders:
1 Peter 2:13-17 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Romans 13 reminds us to respect governing authorities. Jesus told the religious leaders to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. Of course, unless we are asked to break God’s law, which includes direct safety issues.
We are to live our lives knowing that this isn’t it.
Live in Joy that we will one day experience God face to face.
Live confidently that our light reflecting Jesus proves we are different.
In reality…
- Nations will be vindicated.
- Our names and descendants will endure.
- The former (tough) things will not be remembered.
- The Tree of Life returns that we can eat from freely. It will have 12 crops of fruit! One for each month?
- No more curses, death, tears, hunger, thirst.
- No mourning, crying or pain.
- No more predatorial animals.
- The earth will be filled with the knowledge of God.
- AND God will dwell among us once again. Like in the Garden.
I have challenged my daughter, who is an avid meat lover, “Do you think we will all be vegetarians in the new earth?” We had a great laugh over this. Well, I did.
Other meat lovers, take heart. We can read a prophecy from Isaiah, chapter 25:6
6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
This is the celebratory feast that the LORD prepares for all who believe in the saving blood of the Messiah: Jew and Gentile.
Back on topic!
Do you & I live confidently in the GAP? Before Jesus’ final return?
Do we live as though we actually believe this New Earth will be established?
Lamentations 3:22-24
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
If you believe in the God of Creation…
If you claim the LORD Jesus, the Messiah as your Savior…
If you have the HOLY SPIRIT living in you….
THIS IS YOUR STORY!
This is what you are waiting for!
As we wait for all things to be restored.
Knowing these truths makes it easier to withstand the anger and hate of the world.
Rely on prayer.
Rely on reflecting Jesus’ love and glory.
KNOW GOD.
KNOW HIS PROMISES.
A promise is only as good as the One making the Promise.
Know HIS Promises!
Know WHO God is.
I have a book that spells out different Hebrew names of God, entitled His Names are Wonderful. The names are in both Hebrew and English with accompanying Bible verses.
One Name is, T’mim d’im, “He who knows everything.”
We can claim our God knows everything!
Meditate on the following reminders of our status next to God’s.
Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Job 21:22 22 “Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
Job 37:14-16 14 “Stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
Romans 11:33-34 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
We are so small in comparison to God.
T’mim d’im, “He who knows everything.”
Our waiting while fighting anxiousness takes intentionality.
Release your worries and fears.
Turn over your anger and frustration.
Also
Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
1 Peter 3:9 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
It may take time.
Repetition.
Work.
Being Still and KNOWING that He is God. (Psalm 46:10, Heather’s version.)
Remember from our prayer podcast, that the verb, “Be Still” is in the command form?
“Know “is also in the command form!
If we choose to do it our own way, God gives us over to our ways.
Until we return to Him.
Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica:
1 Thess 1:3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Work. Faith. Labor. Love. Endurance. Hope.
Be mindful of our days. Our choices. Our responses to others. Especially our social media posts.
For Christ’s sake, delight in our weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when we are weak, then we are strong.
Create a quiet time and “Be still.” “Know!”
Meditate on the characteristics listed in Philippians 4:9.
Practice gratitude. Thank God for your family. Thank you for my home. Food. For Jesus our Salvation.
Be mindful of how you represent the LORD.
Be mindful of how you speak His name.
Be mindful of how you know His Truths.
Reflect His glory to the world. Despite other’s hate or dissension.
Trust that He has this all in His Mighty Hands.
1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
We are in strict training, friends!
As I close, I pray Psalm 90:12 for each of you.
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Shalom my friends. I look forward to the next time!
**Heather!
©2025 Heather M R Olsen, Illumination: Hebrew Insights. All rights reserved. 
