He has
abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might reconcile in himself
one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups
to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.
Paul tells us that Christ broke down the wall between the Jews and the
Gentiles allowing all of us to be saved. In verse 14 he says, "For he is our
peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing
wall, that is, the hostility between us."
In 2000 years we have erected many walls, some out of stone and some in
our hearts. We have walls between races, sexes, ethnic groups, religions. Some of these
walls have led to war. Even now a wall leads us to contemplate war.
What has happened to the peace Christ lived, taught and died for? In
verse 17 Paul says, "So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and
peace to those who were near…"
You’ve heard that old expression "you are what you eat."
I suggest you are what you learn. What are we teaching our children -- to build walls or
to break them down?
We are fond of saying, "but I’m only one person in a huge
world," In Engineering I have seen great structures fail because of one small crack.
Be the cause of that crack in the walls of hatred and divisiveness.
Teach peace and tolerance. It’s as simple as " love your neighbor as
yourself."
Christ Jesus, help us to see the peace you saw. Use us as hammers
to break down the walls we have hatefully erected. Give us the strength to start a crack
and the patience to watch it grow, so that we may proclaim peace to those who are far off
and peace to those who are near. Lord, help us to make both groups into one.
