"The Great Divide"

 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24 KJV) 

  ""And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death."" (Proverbs 8:32-36 NLT)

 Talk about something that is cut and dry, there is really nothing else that needs to be settled: this is the facts, if anyone is looking, it is right here for all to see! As much as I would like to get several people around me to see this fact, there are certain things which cause them to miss the point; the worst of which is them seeing that there actually is life after death. 

 Not quite sure why these Jewish leaders are behind the eight ball, so to speak, because they know how it works, but they totally missed how it plays out! If you don't understand what that might mean, there are several things that are making it hard for them to see the position they are in, the biggest of which, is the sin in their lives.  

 The first question we must ask ourselves, is, what is sin? Having been taught this, probably several hundred times, maybe thousands, I can say with confidence that sin is missing the mark! The second question to ask oneself, is, what or where is the mark? The mark is UP! Way up, further up then we are able to reach! 

 Basically, Jesus has been showing them all along: they are of this world; He is from above and is not of this world. We are not able to go to a place of Glory, without first being made glorious! I know that it might not seem fair, but God has evened the playing field by making it a choice! We either choose life or death! What a strange concept...

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where is says, 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."" (Acts 4:8-12 NLT)