They had to delay the kick-off for 15 minutes!

The theme for my daughter's GCSE Art exam is 'Barriers'. It's one of those topics that gives plenty of scope for interpretation and creativity. I guess barriers can be both positive and negative. Positive in the sense that they can protect people and increase safety. The barriers outside the Houses of Parliament are presumably designed to deter terrorists from driving explosives packed vehicles into the building thereby protecting the precious occupants!

But some barriers are negative. A friend of mine loves telling a story of his unfortunate experience with a barrier - a turnstile at the old Wimbledon F.C. ground in Plough Lane. As a generously built Arsenal fan he made his way to the Away supporters end and attempted to squeeze through the full length turnstile. He stuck fast and could neither go forward or back. Several hundred Arsenal fans behind him were yelling 'Hurry up you fat b******' and similar helpful comments. The fire brigade were called and they eventually freed him. They had to delay the kick-off for 15 minutes! He has sensibly avoided turnstiles every since.

Anything that stops someone achieving their goal in life could be seen as a barrier - it may be an interview panel or some form of prejudice or a simple lack of finance - numerous 'barriers' affect our lives each day. And yet the greatest barrier of all time that affects absolutely everyone seems to get overlooked - the barrier that separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2 starkly states that '...your iniquities have separated you from your God.' It is our sin that has formed an impenetrable barrier between us and God. But the Good News is that Jesus blasted it apart when he died on the Cross. The barrier is no longer there - we won't get stuck halfway - we are free to walk into the loving arms of our heavenly Father but we have to exercise faith and move towards Him.