Repairers of the Breach

The city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) thrived for more than a thousand years. Its defensive walls played a large part in this long period of prosperity. More than fourteen miles (twenty-two kilometers) of walls surrounded the city, including the great Theodosian Walls. This section of the wall included a moat, a twenty-seven-foot outer wall, and a massive inner wall forty feet tall and fifteen feet thick. Troops stood guard on the wall at all times, ready to discharge arrows as well as pour down fire on any enemy that dared to attack. These walls succeeded in keeping back many empires with vast armies that tried to conquer Constantinople. The walls were finally breached in 1453, when the Ottoman Empire besieged the city with a fearsome new weapon—the cannon. With it, they broke through the massive walls that had stood for a thousand years, and the Turks poured in and captured Constantinople, effectively toppling the mighty Byzantine Empire. Many ancient cities of different empires were protected with walls. Any breach in the wall could spell doom to that city. Repairing a breach was of primary importance to keep the city’s streets and dwellings safe from invasion. Should those walls be breached, a way of life would be destroyed as the enemy came in. Individuals, families, and communities would be vulnerable. In Isaiah 58 we read language about a city that has been breached. Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. (Isaiah 58:12 NASB) The Breach When God created mankind, he created us to be like him—whole, sound, strong, and protected (with fortified walls, so to speak). From the account in Genesis 3, we know that there was a breach. The enemy came in, and man’s soul was invaded—and much damage was caused. This damage has taken many forms. It is evidenced in as many ways as there are people on this earth—addiction, rage, fear, pride, timidity, murder, lust, lies, greed, jealousy, domination, secretiveness, manipulation, unforgiveness—and so on. • Sometimes we allow the enemy of our soul through that breach, and damage comes to some part of our life as individuals. • Sometimes other people climb through that breach, and they hurt us—causing damage to some part of our life. • Sometimes we climb through the breach in someone else’s life—and we bring harm and damage to some part of their life. Regardless of how the enemy of our soul comes in, the kingdom of darkness makes its way through the breach, and it can reign in our life like a conquering army. While working with those infected with HIV during the 1990’s, I saw the damage that unkind words could have on a family. Ignorance of the virus, misunderstanding and disinformation was rife. Betty and John were a young couple with three children. John worked for a mining company many miles away from their village and, like many other men, lived in the hostels provided for the workers by the mining company. John would go home to his village one weekend a month, normally after payday. Both John and Betty contracted HIV. Betty became sick with AIDS related illnesses much sooner than her husband. The HIV virus spreads faster in a female body due to several biological factors, but this was not considered when the rumors started. As she was the first to get sick, Betty was accused of being unfaithful to her husband and infecting him. Betty and her children were ostracized from the extended family, from her church and from the greater village community, forced to live in a shack on the outskirts of the village. We found Betty and her children, destitute and afraid. Her life had been plundered and her soul taken captive. To her dying day, Betty said she had been faithful to her husband. The kingdom of darkness had found a breach in her marriage and reigned like a conquering army. Betty’s story is tragic but light and hope came to her and dispelled some of the darkness. We were able to facilitate the return of Betty to her mother’s house by helping her family understand the dynamic of the disease in a woman’s body. Home based care was provided for her (and her husband) until their death. Food and support were provided for their children while they were being raised by their grandmother. The light of the kingdom of God came in and repaired some of the damage and soothed their souls. The City Is Safe When Jesus walked this earth, he demonstrated the goodness of God’s kingdom in the way that he lived. In God’s kingdom, our souls are safe and made whole. Jesus comes to rebuild the “ancient ruins and age-old foundations.” Jesus comes to restore God’s kingdom—a place where all can thrive. However, like Betty, we don’t always thrive, and our souls can continue to be plundered, even by those in the Church who represent Jesus. How then has God’s kingdom come? Truth Tensions In life, there are many truth tensions, such as taking care of our finances by saving and planning, while at the same time being generous and sharing our resources with the poor. Another truth tension is being kind and exercising patience with our children’s shortcomings but at the same time correcting and allowing consequences when necessary. In the bible there are many truth tensions that we need to hold in both hands and balance, such as we are (a) saved by grace alone but (b) faith without works is dead . We cannot do any good works that will save us from our fallen state. It is (a) entirely our faith and trust in God’s grace and his goodness that freely gives us right standing with him. However, our faith (b) without corresponding good works is not alive and active – it is dead. A truth tension.