The Great Divide refers to the Rocky Mountains in north America. In Australia, similarly, there is the Great Dividing Range. Britain has its Pennine Chain. Generally, these mountain ranges separate the watershed to their east and west. An Old English word sceadan, meaning ‘to divide’, from which we derive the shed in watershed.
Mountains figure prominently in the Bible,
too numerous to list. After the global flood Noah’s ark docked on Mount Ararat
as the waters drained. Moses received God’s Law on Mount Sinai. Mt Moriah,
where Abraham was supposed to sacrifice his son, became Mt Zion (the Temple Mount)
where God actually sacrificed His Son. The Great Divides in the Bible are
because of what God did on Mt Zion. Mt Zion’s watershed (or should we say
bloodshed?) means that ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far
has He removed our transgressions from us’ Psalm 103:12.
Another Great Divide, though not as popular, is
the great chasm or great gulf that is fixed between Heaven and Hell. A rich man
suffering the torments of Hell saw Lazarus, a poor man who in life sat at his
gates, but whom he gave no pity nor assistance. Lazarus is at Abraham’s bosom
in Heaven. But Abraham said to the departed rich man, “Son, remember that
in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this,
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass
from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us”’ Luke 16:25-26.
Because of the Great Divide there is no
escape from Heaven or Hell once there. Who in their right mind would wish to
escape from Heaven anyway? Before you attempt to answer that, consider the fact
that there are people who, like the rich man, do not wish to go to Heaven! The
rich man heard the Gospel, the Good News about Christ, and His Kingdom of
Heaven. Like many today, he was invited to repent and believe in the Gospel
(Mark 1:15). However, like many today, he was not interested. Now he is in
torments. ‘Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue;
for I am tormented in this flame.’ Luke 16:24.
He had five brothers who were still alive,
and he did not want them to end up where he was. ‘Abraham said to him, “They
have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” And he said, “No, father
Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” But he said
to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be persuaded though one rise from the dead”’ Luke 16:29-31.
The Greatest Divide is between those who
believe the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, and what they say about Christ,
and His being crucified, dead, and buried, but rising again from the dead, and
those who do not believe. The former join Abraham and Lazarus in Heaven, while
the latter join the rich man and the torments of Hades. Why? ‘Neither will they
be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’
Thank God the Great Divide between sinful man
and the righteous God has been resolved by God sending His only begotten Son to
die on Mt Zion for the sins of those who believe in Him, and to save them from
His wrath as experienced by the rich man and illustrated by Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment