The Great Divide

Last summer while traveling with my son Matt, we crossed over the continental divide. The watershed on the east flows into the great Mississippi. The watershed on the west flows to the Pacific. It is a dividing line. Our society has many dividing lines. Politically, our country is divided. Economically there are those who have plenty and those who are in need. It seems the divide is getting harder to cross. We see division in social realms, moral values and spiritual issues. There seems to be no end to that which divides us. Division often finds its way into the church. In Paul's time, some said that they were of Apollos, others Peter and still others Paul. Somehow, through association they became spiritually better than others. A childhood friend attends a church in Santa Rosa which teaches that it is the right church and all the others, including our church, are in error. Another friend attends a church that only uses the King James Bible because it is the only authorized version. Division exists, yet God has provided a way for us to be as one. The world has its idea of oneness. John Lennon wrote the song "Imagine" which captures the essense of it. He wrote, "Imagine no heaven...no hell...no country...and we'll all be one." It sounds like Utopia on earth, but in reality it is a thought that leads to hell. Jesus is the only one who can tear down the great divide. The Bible states that sin separates us from God, but through Jesus, the separation is removed and we have peace with God. Jesus destroyed the distinctions of His day by hanging around with sinners (tax collectors and a known prostitute) and told stories like the Good Samaritan which caused people to ponder who really was the true neighbor. In Ephesians 2.14 we see that Jesus has torn down the dividing walls between the greatest division in the Jewish mindset-the division between Jew and Gentile. God's purpose was to create one new man out of the two. Think of the distinctions we have today: differences in gender, wealth, ethnic back ground and social status. Jesus has torn down these divisions and have made us truly one. Galatians 3.28 states that there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, slave or free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. What we see then is that sin divides, but Jesus unites. Is there a great divide between you and God? Then come to Jesus have have peace with God. Is there a great divide in your relationships? Commit them to Jesus and trust Him to do the impossible, for truly He can bring healing and wholeness to anyone who comes to Him in faith. Don't let sin keep you on the wrong side of the dividing line. We must cross over and put our trust in Jesus and in Him alone. Which side are you on? Blessings, Pastor Pete