The Wall of Separation

Major anti-Communist riots broke out in East Berlin in June, 1953 and, in August, 1961, a Communist-built wall, 26½ miles long sealed off the Soviet Sector, running through the city. It was built to stem the flood of refugees seeking freedom in the West, 200,000 having fled in 1961 before the wall was erected.

On November 9, 1989, several weeks after the resignation of East Germany's long-time Communist leader, Erich Honecker, the wall's designer and chief proponent, the East German government opened its borders to the West and allowed thousands of its citizens to pass freely through the Berlin Wall. They were cheered and greeted by thousands of West Berliners, and many of the jubilant newcomers celebrated their new freedom by climbing on top of the hated wall. The following day, East German troops began dismantling parts of the wall. It was ironic that this wall was built to keep the citizens from leaving and, 28 years later, it was being dismantled for the same reason. On November 22, new passages were opened at the north and south of the Brandenburg Gate in an emotional ceremony attended by Chancellor Helmut Kohl of West Germany and Chancellor Hans Modrow of East Germany. The opening of the Brandenburg Gate climaxed the ending of the barriers that had divided the German people since the end of World War II. The end of 1990 had removed the entire wall.

It was a day long celebrated, and it will be a day long remembered. However, there was another day when another wall was torn down that ought to be remembered with even more joy and celebration.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-22 ESV).

The wall that had separated mankind from the presence of God was completely torn down and removed when Jesus provided Himself as the atoning sacrifice necessary to bring forgiveness to every man. I have seen a part of the Berlin Wall on display at the Bush Library, but it is nothing to the sight of the empty tomb I have visited in Jerusalem! Like the Apostle Paul I can exclaim, “Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through His son, Jesus Christ!” Celebrate the wall being torn down today in your life. Thank Him for giving you life and liberty. Open your heart and mind to His presence this moment.