Crossing the Continental Divide
In North and South America our combined continents are divided east and west — and this line is of greater significance than any divide that might show us north and south. All water that east of the continental divide flows essentially into the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Mexico and its direct connection to the Atlantic). All water that hits west of this divide flows into the Pacific Ocean.
When I was a kid our grandparents took us to Colorado and when we reached the highway sign that said we were on the continental divide, there was a big arrow pointing one direction to the Atlantic and the other arrow pointing to the Pacific. My grandmother got us kids out of the car (she was always really good at this kind of thing) and had us pour water on the highway right on the middle of the line. Part of the water went one way, and the other part went the other. I remember her telling us… “even though the water came from the same cup, the water that flows east will end up in the Atlantic, and the water that flows west will end up in the Pacific.” We were on the grand Continental Divide!
This week we are taking the next step in our study of “The Gospel Truth” and we are taking on a passage in Romans that most consider as the continental divide truth — Romans 3:21-26. You need to read it carefully and meditate on it as you prepare for this Sunday. There are biblical scholars who have called this the Continental Divide message in all of God’s story in Scripture. There is a highly respected commentator from years ago that boldly says that this is greatest paragraph in all of the Bible! Now that is a big and bold statement. And when he wrote that he backed it up by saying that there are so many stories and grand verses in all of the Bible, but this one divides time. Why? Because it is the Gospel story. That’s why the two words that begin in Romans 3:21 are… “But now…” Everything that is past is past. But because of this continental divide moment in the story of the Gospel, everything can be totally redeemed in the future because of Christ.
Our journey of study this year is learning the Gospel Truth. Please take time to read and contemplate this short passage. Keep writing out the book of Romans by hand. I recommend that we take the next few weeks and make sure we write out Romans 3:21 – 5:21. This is where we will concentrate our time and study together for the next four Sundays.
See you Sunday morning
