“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division” (Luke 12:51).

fathima-rifqa-bary From the very beginning, God has been a great divider.

On the first day of creation, “God divided the light from the darkness”; on the second day He “divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament” (Genesis 1:4,7).

When God first created man, they walked together in sweet fellowship, but then sin came in and made a great division between man and God. Nevertheless, “when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10).

The price has been paid for full reconciliation with our Creator, but “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19), so Christ Himself is now the One who divides.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

Jesus Christ divides all history and all chronology. Things either happened “Before Christ” (B.C.) or “in the Year of our Lord” (A.D.). Men are either under the Old Covenant or the New Covenant. Most of all, He divides humanity. “There was a division among the people because of Him” (John 7:43; see also John 9:16; 10:19). These divisions because of Him can cut very deep.

“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother” (Luke 12:53).

Finally, when He comes to judge all nations, “He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: . . . and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:32,46).

The division (concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God) is life or death, light or darkness, heaven or hell, Christ or antichrist… and the choice is ours!

Editorial Note: Today, a young Muslim convert to Jesus Christ, is on trial in the State of Ohio. Why? The state is going to determine whether or not this diminutive and frail young lady (she stands less than five feet tall) will become a ward of Ohio until 18 or be sent back to her Muslim home – and most certain martyrdom.

I had the unique privilege of meeting with Rifqa Bary on several occasions while her case was making it through the Florida Juvenile Court System. I can tell you first hand, as an eye witness, that her life is indeed a true representation of Jesus’ declaration that He, “has not come to bring peace but division.”

The Christian Church must continually pray for both Rifqa and indeed, all who face persecution from family for standing on their commitment to follow Jesus Christ – and not, biological bloodlines.

William Cody Bateman

division, death, life, peace

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