Years ago, my brother and I traveled into Germany when the Berlin Wall was still in place. We even

ventured into East Germany where machine guns were laser-focused on our bus in case we tried to do

anything tricky. As we arrived at Checkpoint Charlie to re-enter West Germany, a huge mirror was

passed under the whole length of our bus to be sure no one was hiding there trying to escape. In West

Germany we saw memorials, crosses, and flowers placed at the base of the grim-looking wall topped

with barbed wire and broken glass – memorials to those who had died trying to escape. It broke my

heart to see the wall of hatred separating East and West.

On November 9, 1989, tears streamed down my face as I watched the breaking news. History was

unfolding before my eyes! Cheering people atop the Berlin Wall were tearing that thing down brick-by-

brick. The wall that had divided Germany for 28 years was coming down!

The intense hatred that the Jews had for Gentiles had also created a wall of separation – a wall most

people assumed would stay put. Because of that hatred, both people groups were far off from what God

wanted His people to be – people united in right relationship with Him.

The Temple consisted of a series of courts – with the outermost court being the Court of the Gentiles –

followed by the Court of the Women. In between these two courts was a dividing screen of marble with

tablets placed at intervals warning that if a Gentile proceeded any further than his own court, he would

be put to death. This physical barrier was intended to block the Gentiles from the presence of God.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

(Ephesians 2:13)

Because of Christ, everything changed. Now for Gentiles who are In Christ, the barrier has been broken

down. They have been “brought near” not by their behavior or acts of kindness, but by the blood of

Christ.

We still erect barriers today – barriers of our own making and not of God. Prejudices, biases, dearly-held

traditions, or preferences – all can be barriers that divide us from each other. Would you take a moment

and ask God to show you where you may have unknowingly allowed a wall to come up in your life – a

wall that divides rather than unites?



Long ago, Jesus prayed to the Father that we all might be one – just as He and His Father were one. Let’s

commit to being an answer to that prayer.

By Judy Shrout

Judy is the wife of Tom, mother of Heather, mother-in-law of Jim, grandmom to T.J., Ainsley, and

Maggie, and grandmother-in-law to Piper.