The Himalaya mountain range acts as one of the best natural barriers possible between one country and its neighbour. Nevertheless not all countries have such a superior barrier and so some build their own. One of the most infamous was the wall dividing the city of Berlin into two parts east, a Soviet controlled area, and the west, the same supported by UK and the USA. In the small hours of the night of the 13th of August, 1961, as Berliners slept, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) began building fences and barriers to seal off entry points from East Berlin, into the western part of the city. The overnight move stunned Germans on both sides of the new border. As GDR soldiers patrolled the demarcation line and labourers began constructing a concrete wall that snaked through the city, diplomatic officials and the militaries of both sides engaged in a series of tense standoffs. The wall had its origins in the end of World War II, when Germany was carved into four pieces and occupied by Allied powers. Although Berlin city was also originally divided into four quarters, by 1947 it was consolidated into east and west zones. The Americans and the British feared the permanent Soviet domination of eastern Europe and the threat of Soviet-influenced communist parties coming to power in the democracies of western Europe. The Soviets, on the other hand, were determined to maintain control of eastern Europe in order to safeguard against any possible renewed threat from Germany, and they were intent on spreading communism worldwide, largely for ideological reasons. The wall divided not only divided the city but in some cases families were divided as well as property. This stand off continued until 9thof November 1989, 33 years ago this month, when the east German army opened the enter points once again. Then the local people, themselves, started to teardown the wall and soon reduced it to a pile of rubble, that was quickly snatched up by souvenir hunters. The decision to open the wall was a reflection of the immense political changes taking place in East Germany, where the old communist leadership was rapidly losing power and the populace was demanding free elections and movement toward a free market system. Its removal brought families together who had not been allowed to visit each other for over 30 years. It was the begining of the westernisation of East Germany. Over the decades many other countries have built barriers as well like the great wall of China or Hadrians wall in the UK. The barrier is to stop a free flow of people, goods and ideas. Although they function as a deterrent eventually these types of obstacles are pulled down.
In the Bible we read of pulling down strongholds too, where old habits and activities have to be brought under control. For a Christian nothing should hinder them from their walk with the living God. The apostle Paul says in second Corinthians chapter 10 verse 3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Some times Christians can let other necessary yet unimportant things build a wall in their lives. These things become more important than talking with God and therefore this wall will stop fellowship with God. The apostle Paul says these things need to be pulled down and controlled even to our thoughts, so that they can not hinder or stop the flow of fellowship with God.
