There are parts in the Bible that are difficult. Difficult because they challenge our comfortable and cosy church belief that God's grace and love will eventually get everyone to heaven. Well, then we come across a passage from Jesus' words, where he says: 'Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people and cause them to choose!'
What's the choice? In the context of our passage (Luke 12:51), Jesus just spoke about his coming again, then demands that we exercise our free will and choose, and then calls us to repentance (that is: to turn around from where we are going and follow him). Now here is my struggle. A small portion of our membership are demonstrating their relationship with Christ through their weekly worship, but a large number of our membership might pop in now and then, or leave it just to Christmas. What choice are they making about the importance of the gift of salvation for them and their future? In my own family there are those who have walked away from the Christian faith. What have they chosen? Would you blame God for the excercise of your own free will? Here is an aspect of the Gospel that is rarely talked about: God lets you decide your future! And it starts right now ...
Rev.'D
