What can Seperate?
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Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
It is a question that all of us struggle with at times as we ask the question, does really love me!
We find this verse at the end of a discourse on the privileges the believers have in holy triumph
In the preceeding verses he sets forth the the mystery of God’s love to us in Christ and the exceedingly great and precious we enjoy through Christ!
He closes this section with the words
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
In essence, What use of these things that has been said?
Like a warrior standing before the troops, Paul throws down the gauntlet and challenges the believer!
Paul was no stranger to the cost of the ministry
On the very day of his salvation the Holy Spirit uttered these words to the man who would address the now former Saul,
And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
If you read the Apostle’s resume it is quite shocking
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
Never once do we read about the Apostle abandoning the one he loved!
If we believe the Scriptures then we find ourselves in an interesting place!
If God is for us..he goes on and sums up our privileges
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Not only reconciled to us, and so not against us, but in covenant with us and so engaged for us -all of His attributes and promises are ours in Christ!
All that He is, and has, and has done is for His people
Who can hinder our happiness if this be so?
Who then dare fight against God when they attack us?
Our intercessor stands ready willing and able to come to our defense!
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Do you see it?
Not when we want it but when we ned it!
We often read the “love’ verse at weddings but it is more than applicable here!
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
Love is patient - our love for God should be leading us to patience in every situation!
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
We are reminded of the words of Christ
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Love and trust are reciprocal relationships!
Love builds trust and trust builds love
Yes, the trials of this life cause a loss,
An unbeliever loses money, property, status and other worldly things which are already passing away
The believer however gains in the midsts of trials!
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.
The loss the believer suffers are the things that are separating us from our relationship with God!
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
I will close with this verse
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
Amen