Peace or Division?

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

I was thinking about the division in our country or the world, for that matter. There can be division in anything. When two people do not see 

eye to eye there's division. Especially in politics! 

Then I got to thinking about what Jesus said: Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (Luke 12:51-53)

He is our Prince of Peace, however. The division comes when one believes in Him and another does not. When one's life revolves around Him, one's does not. When I want to talk about the things of God and cannot, to me there is division. We want to talk about those things that are important to us. How hard it is when talk of God just don't happen! 

So this takes me a little deeper, on a subject that also brings division, has some in an uproar. The Church is even divided on this. Go figure. There can be no "one accord" even in her. There are many doctrines, but only one Lord. 

Some day the absolute truth will be known by all people. That absolute truth is starts in the very first scripture above. It's a well-known scripture. Many think they believe it. Many really do not...and that brings division. 

If Jesus says He is the way, truth and life, He is. No one or anything else is. Period. That brings division when others decide that God is a loving God and would not send anyone to hell. I believed it too. That is so far from the truth.

God is holy. He cannot be in the presence of unholiness. That is why Jesus said He is the way, truth and life. To get into God's presence, receive His grace and mercy, we must go through Christ. No other way than by His own Son. Not just by mentally agreeing He is, but knowing in heart, soul and mind. It's that simple. A simple, but sometimes hard to digest, truth. Your goodness will not do it, neither your generosity, kindness, or love alone. Our goodness is as filthy rags. But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6) But through Christ...we are made whole (hah, no division). 

So there is division. And in the end there will be division as well. We will either be ushered into the kingdom of heaven or cast into the lake of fire. It may seem like a very unkind  thing for God to do but if you read His Word you will understand that knowing Him and obeying Him brings better results. 

So why did Jesus say He did not come to bring peace but division? Because some would find it hard to believe there is only one way, and that He was it. So clearly seen with all the denominations and beliefs to choose from.  Those who understand and believe this and adhere to His truth will find peace. The division: peace and turmoil; light and dark; good and evil. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, remember, but life in and through Christ changes that. 

Romans 5:1-2 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.