Whittaker Journal: In The Heart Of Brasov

Pigeons fluttering in, out, and over lovely, crumbling architecture. Centuries-old and brand-spanking new, bright paint and weathered grey, the chatter of people out and about and the peace of golden hour. That old world feel, the special charm of Europe but different, Eastern - more impoverished but proud. Flourishing, in its own way, over healed wounds, like greenery slowly creeping over a war-torn land. Our guide points out a wall, repaired, that was once riddled with bullets, streets that ran with blood. Across the street is a city park, mindlessly swaying with shade and forgetfulness. A world all of its own, nestled in a valley, ringed with snow-capped mountains. This is Brasov. This is Romania. This is our new home.

It has been many years since my parents left their homeland behind and came to America. It has been more since Communism fell and the dictator was outed. What has become of this country in the meantime? It has slowly healed, modernized. It looks to the West and the EU and follows their lead. And yet the examples it is given are devoid of godliness and it remains in spiritual darkness. It remains in need of the gospel.

"The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."

E Z E K E I E L 22 : 29 - 30

In my mind, this verse applies to every country in this day and age. I don't believe the world was ever in spiritually in a "good state" and yet there were eras where the gospel thrived and was more commonly known, eras where whole countries functioned by laws based on Scriptural principles, eras that experienced spiritual revivals and spiritual enlightenment. Today, it seems the spiral into spiritual darkness is ever-increasing and no one knows where it will lead. And so, I believe, today, God is searching for people to stand in the gap. People in America, people in Romania, people in every place - people that can build up the walls and stand in the breaches before God, interceding that He bring spiritual revival and repentance rather than judgement and destruction.

Here we are, in the place He has put us. Here you are, in the place He has put you. Here we are, with a wide open door for the gospel, a very dark place to shine our light, a very crucial time in history to make our mark. May He find us faithful.

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