Breaking Down The Walls

On November 9^th, 2013 it will be 24 years since the fall of the Berlin wall.

Construction of the infamous wall began in the dead of night one August in 1961 to separate West Berlin from surrounding East Berlin and East Germany, and probably to halt the large numbers of people wanting to leave East Germany at the time for the democratic west. Just past midnight, trucks with soldiers and construction workers started tearing up streets that entered into West Berlin, dug holes to put up concrete posts, and strung barbed wire all across the border between East and West Berlin.

Imagine how shocked the people were when they woke up next morning. What had once been an open border was now fenced off. No longer could East Berliners cross the border for operas, plays, or sporting matches. Approximately 60,000 commuters couldn’t head to West Berlin for well-paying jobs. No longer could families, friends, and lovers cross the border to meet their loved ones. Whichever side of the border one went to sleep on during the night of August 12, they were stuck on that side for decades.

In 1989, amidst a changing political scene, and significant civil unrest, it was announced that East Germans would now be free to visit West Berlin and West Germany and the gates were opened on November 9th. Bit by bit the wall was chipped away by souvenir hunters with sledgehammers or hammer and chisel, before finally being removed totally by earthmoving equipment in 1990.

The fall of the wall brought freedom. And it brought great joy. Families were reunited, relationships restored. Two separate territories eventually became one.

Some two thousand years earlier, another wall came down. The barrier between God and mankind – sin – was torn down as Jesus paid the penalty with his death, and we were all reconciled to God through the gate of forgiveness this opened up. The forgiveness was not just for the Jews, but for all people – men, women and children of every race, creed and socio-economic group on the planet. His death brought freedom, and reconciliation, and subsequently joy.

Walls and barriers that divide are terrible things. Yet we seem good and creating metaphorical walls between ourselves and others, particularly those that are different to us in one way or another. And I’m sure this saddens God.

Don’t erect walls. Don’t divide or section yourself off from individuals or groups of people. We were all created equal. God loves everybody equally. You don’t have to agree with everybody, or even like everybody, but once the wall goes up it gets so hard to bring down.

And most importantly, don’t separate yourself from God. Keep your face turned towards him, living lives that are wholesome and pleasing to God. Enjoy the freedom and the joy that comes with being able to be in relationship with the God of love.

www.salvationarmy.org.au/mornington