June 12, 1987. President Ronald Reagan stood before a microphone at the Brandenburg Gate of the Berlin Wall. The pillars of the Cold War, post WWII hostilities and tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies were shaking and near collapse. The war had gone on since 1947, and the fears of atomic attacks in the midst of an arms race were very real.
The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, dividing Germany in half. East Germany was communistic, specifically a socialistic republic. West Germany was democratic. With the demise of the Cold War’s end in sight and with the famous Wall as his backdrop, Reagan gave his famous speech. Lasting about 25 minutes, the most famous part of his speech still resounds today.
“And now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released. Certain foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater freedom from state control. Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures, intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace.
“There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”1
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. On December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union was officially dissolved. The Cold War had ended.
There was another wall of division that had been around for centuries. The wall was invisible, but it was definitely there. It was a vertical wall separating Jews from Gentiles. But there was another wall, horizontal in nature. It was the division between God and man. No speeches were made. The actions of one Man, the God-Man Jesus Christ, brought the walls down.
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; (12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (14) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (17) And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Ephesians 2:11-18)
By salvation through Jesus, there are no ethnic walls. And through Jesus, there are no walls between God and man. We became one body in Christ Jesus. We have access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) by the blood of Jesus. Colossians 3:10-11 says that we “have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
What a glorious day it will be in Heaven when we bow together at the feet of Jesus in worship, one church giving worship to one Savior and King. Revelation 7:9-10 foretells of that day. Till then, may we live in the spirit of the freedom and unity provided to us.
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (10) And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
1https://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/inline-pdfs/reagan_BerlinWall_FPS.pdf
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