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Verse:For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. —Ephesians 2:14, NIV
China has some of the most impressive man-made structures in the world. One is the famous Great Wall of China, which began to be built around 221 BC under the order of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
As a means of preventing incursions from barbarian nomads into the Chinese Empire, the wall was significantly expanded over the centuries. A preliminary survey suggested that it was only 5,500 miles (8,851 kilometers) long.
But in 2012, more accurate archaeological studies revealed that the historic structure (including a series of fortifications) was actually 13,170 miles (21,195 kilometers) long. Another impressive Chinese structure is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, a 102-mile (164-kilometer) elevated high-speed rail line between Shanghai and Nanjing. It crosses the Yangtze River Delta with its lowland rice paddies, canals, rivers, and lakes. Constructed in a mere four years by up to ten thousand laborers, the bridge was finished in 2010 and opened for commercial service on June 30, 2011.
It is by far the longest bridge ever made.
So, China has both the longest wall and the longest bridge in the world. The gospel also invites us to build both strong spiritual walls to separate us from sin and concrete social bridges to bring us closer to sinners in need of salvation.
But when it comes to interpersonal relationships, “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”71 There are indeed many wall builders, carelessly separating marriages, families, and close friends. But there are also bridge builders who overcome all kinds of obstacles to reconcile broken relationships. Jesus was an extremely social person who broke down many of the societal walls of His day. “In every human being He discerned infinite possibilities. He saw men as they might be, transfigured by His grace.” “If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.” How different would our world be if you and I were to become bridge builders to share God’s saving love with those who are perishing!