This evening I got a text from a friend asking me for the passage that talks about nothing being able to separate us from the love of God; here it is:
'For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, neither 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 8v38-39 --
Here is a passionate follower of Jesus, stating his faith to his brothers and sisters in Christ. He is not merely re-telling stories or repeating carefully memorised truths from the depths of his memories. No, he is speaking of the power of the love of God, in Jesus, from the depths of his heart - fresh as the dew at dawn. And in the heat of being on fire for God, he speaks of what cannot separate us from the love of God! Time for a whistle-stop tour of his statement.
Neither:
Death, nor life: Not how we are now, or how we shall be after death can separate us from God's love.
Angels nor Demons: Not the creatures that serve God night and day, nor the ones he threw out of heaven when they set their minds to overthrow him. Neither of these sets of angelic/demonic beings can separate us from God's love.
Present nor the future: Not what we're going through now, or what events lie ahead of us - sin included, can separate us from God's love.
Any powers: Not even the power of the devil himself can separate you from the love of God.
Height nor Depth: Even if you're on the other side of the world, in the deepest canyon, the darkest hole, or on the highest mountain; distance is no obstacle to the love of God, nor is it a hinderance to his covenant with you.
Anything else in all creation: And just when you'd thought the writer had exhausted the possibilities, he states the gloriously wonderful truth - that nothing else can separate us from the love of God - nothing in all creation. Nothing man-formed, man-said, nature-derived or anything else.
But why can nothing separate us from the love of God? The writer concludes by saying:
'...will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord'
When Jesus died on the cross, he sealed his love for us there and then for eternity. Not, so that one day sin could take it from us, or that someone's scathing remark could make us doubt it, or that a personal tragedy should prove his love otherwise. Though it's hard to see at times, God's love for you stands firm throughout all things; often, most poignantly, when we need to trust it the most. I'm reminded of the wonderful hymn that has the line:
'I will not trust the sweetest 'frain, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.'
This is the essence of the hope we hold in Jesus! Our hope and salvation stands on the love of God giving to us the one thing that this world and all its evil cannot take from us; his love. So don't believe the enemy's lies, God's love stands as firmly for you now as it always has.
Be encouraged, that nothing in this world, under or over it has the power to separate you from the love of God. Why? Because it's in Jesus sacrifice that it was sealed for us.
TheWeeScottie
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weird is just your own personal brand of normal
3 comments:
Thanks for that "wee one"
And what is your take on Hebrews 6.4 ?
I think there is one thing that can seperate us, and that is our own conscious, self choice AFTER we have experienced the goodness of Christ.
Bu then again, am I being too pedantic ?
Perhaps :-p that whole argument gets very difficult and involved,especially if you start bringing in pre-destination and all other kinds of fun things.
I'll stick with the simple encouragement, thanks for the reminder Tim! Let's not act as if God might stop loving us!
But live in the light of it and with genuinely grateful hearts.
That the aim of the post Chris, yes! And Claus,I think that's one big Kahuna of an issue. I don't honestly know whether we can or can't deny our own salvation, but I do know that God has all back to him that come in repentance.
However, I don't know if it works in reverse!
When we studied 1 Corinthians in the Spring term in cell groups, we touched on the 'unforgiveable sin' of 'grieving the spirit'. After studying we felt this referred to the life decision of turning from God.
At the end of the day, I don't claim to understand all the ins and outs of this. Chris rightly said that we can be in great danger of getting bogged down, and thus missing the original point.
Therefore be encouraged by the sheer awesomeness, scandel and humility of God's love. That's the message I was aiming for :)
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