A discontinuity occurs when there is a sudden change in state or direction, a gap or break in a logical sequence such as the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, the layer between the earth's crust and the underlying liquid magma. This is a geological discontinuity. As one drives north or south on the country roads of central California, one encounters another kind of discontinuity, a jog in the road, and in order to continue one must jog about a mile to the right. I went to an engineer friend of mine to get the answer to this puzzle. Even though the central valley runs southeast to northwest, the property boundaries are laid out on a north-south bearing. These original property lines were determined by two surveying crews, one starting at the southern end near Bakersfield and the other starting at the northern end near Redding.
According to my friend, the engineer, the crew working from the north surveyed their lines going due south. The crew working from the south laid out their lines going due north. But, whether due to the curvature of longitudinal lines or to some miscalculation, when the two crews met somewhere between Modesto and Turlock they were off about a mile of meeting head-on. So, rather than go back and correct all their work, they just made all the north-south property lines, including the roads, jog. I call this a geographic discontinuity.
There have been similar discontinuities in the history of God's people. I like to call them, historical discontinuities. When God created man, His plan called for man to live forever in an edenic environment. However, man's sin spoiled the plan, so God had to implement the so-called 'plan of salvation.' This was the first discontinuity. Subsequently, mankind went far astray from God's plan. As a consequence, except for Noah and his family, God destroyed all flesh from the earth in a great flood. This was the second discontinuity. But again the human race went astray, and God chose Abraham to initiate a new plan for His people. This was the third discontinuity. Again His people went astray and they ended up as slaves in Egypt. Then God delivered His people, renewed the covenant, and brought them to the promised land. This was the fourth discontinuity. Israel failed to fulfill God's plan, so finally, He sent His only begotten Son as a final attempt to get man back on track. This was the fifth discontinuity.
There will be no further detours for God's people on the road to heaven. Jesus has accurately surveyed the route and those who follow Him will arrive in their heavenly home. The way is certain and straight with no jogs, with no more historical discontinuities.
