The Breaking down of Barriers

WEST SIDE'S BUMP FOR THE MONTH -May 2002

The news of today is constantly about the violence in the Middle East. If you listen enough it almost seems like there is no longer a war going on in Afghanistan! Yet, because of the intense hatred being displayed by the groups over in Israel & Palestine most of our focus is on whether or not peace can be discovered over there.

This is what makes some of the less spoken stories so amazing. While fighting in one form or another has been taking place for a number of years there are also (albeit a minority) people from both camps who long to be able to live with each other as neighbors and friends.
One such story occurred a few years ago that speaks to this.

A child of one of the groups was in desperate need of an organ transplant and time was running out. Suddenly in one of the violent skirmishes a child of the other group was tragically killed. Decision time came for the mother of the slain child. Would she allow her son's organs to save the life of the child from the enemy's camp?
Sure enough she did and the child survived. Soon both mothers were getting together and enjoying each other's company. Despite the war that was going on all around them, these two women from opposite sides of the wall had found loving peace. Why?
The death of one son saved the life of the other!

We understand that the only way for true peace to be found between men is through the death of God's Son Jesus Christ. The apostle wrote "For He himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." (Ephesians 2:14)
If both sides could come to a knowledge of Jesus, then we could talk about true peace in the Mid-east.

For the child of God though another important peace needs to be sought. Not just peace between countries but between individuals. If God could send His Son to die for all the lost sons and daughters of the world, then we should be able to live in peace with all.
It's not enough to be upset with others even though we have a right.
It's not enough to display our disgust at the people around us.
Instead we contemplate what has saved our lives and then all differences can be worked out so all of God's children can not just 'put up' with each other, but actually enjoy their common hope.

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