Jan and I lived in Berlin, Germany for four years. Berlin is a unique and beautiful city. After World War II, Berlin was divided. The east portion of the city lived under the oppressive yoke of Communism. If colors could depict the soul of a place, drab gray and brown would be the colors of choice. The western portion of the city, surrounded by the walls of Communism, lived in the freedom of the democratic West. The colors of a spring bouquet would define the life of West Berlin.
When the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, it was as if a plug was pulled on the stagnate pond of the surrounding oppression of Communism leaving West Berlin to be displayed as a colorful island of freedom. The contrast was stark.
This morning, I had a sense that the Lord is about to pull the plug on the cesspool of bondage that is surrounding individual lives, churches, and ultimately, our nation. The surrounding bondage and stench of deception that has kept individuals, families, and our culture encircled by ever-increasing hopelessness is about to drain away. It will come as sudden as it did on that day in November 1989 when the constraints of the Berlin Wall fell before the eyes of the world.
Jesus sets us free for a purpose. He sets us free to live as free people, not only in our faith but in how we choose to live our lives in culture. When Paul addressed the Galatians, He did so with five chapters of strong admonition asking the Galatians to not allow fear to cripple their faith and return to a walled-in life of legalism. Paul wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
A posture of faith has isolated many of you. The beauty of your choice has bloomed like a colorful garden island. Yet, you have been surrounded by the drab and lifeless choices of others – fear, dishonor, and ignorance. Your life has created an uncomfortable contrast for those who choose to live in the stagnant waters of bondage. What surrounds you does not define you. Your choices have defined you, If you continue to faithfully tend the garden of your faith you will live to see the day when the surrounding darkness will be drained away by an act of God leaving your life as a living testimony of His goodness.
It is indeed dark. Going through it. Thank you for encouraging us. Will continue to tend to the garden of our faith and may the darkness fade and our light grow brighter.