For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 38, 39, NIV
Eternal God, we rest, confident that nothing is strong enough to come between us and Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Isn’t it great, the way Paul begins His declaration? “For I am convinced.” Anything following that declaration is not up for doubt, not for Paul! Paul knew that if God did not spare His only Son, but gave Him up freely for us, then nothing could isolate us from that love. Nothing!
First, Paul asks the question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Then he goes on to list a series of negative situations: trouble, hardship, persecution. famine. nakedness, danger, sword (Romans 8: 35). So is it who shall separate us, or what shall separate us, or both?
His response sheds some light on our question, “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is both, don’t you think? You see, dear friends, our warfare is not with mortals. Our warfare is with fallen angels, demons; it is ”against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the spiritual realms” (Ephesians 6: 12). They bring about the adverse circumstances mentioned earlier. And if, at these times, the enemy of our souls can get us to lose sight of the love of God, then he can defeat us.
But for Paul neither evil beings, nor evil circumstances were powerful enough! He declares with great conviction: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through [H]im who loved us.” (Emphasis provided). “If we can keep God’s love before us,” says Paul, “then nothing will be able to separate us from Him, and His love.” When everything else fails, trust His love!
When disaster strikes, what can I turn to but the love of God? What did the martyrs have to hold on to as they faced death by some of the most inhuman means, if not the love of God? What kept the slaves believing in God, when the very persons who were treating them less than human, were the same ones preaching to them about God? Nothing but the love of God! Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church, as he stood dying at the hand of his persecutors was able to express the same declaration of forgiveness as His Master: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” How was this possible? He, as well as all the others, had to look beyond the human instrument, and trust the unfailing love of God!
My friend, there is nothing greater, or more powerful, and empowering, than the love of God! I experienced it, and my life has never been the same! I invite you to “taste and see that the Lord is good, [and] blessed is the man [or woman, boy or girl, young lady or young man,] that trust in Him” (Psalm 34:8).