“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose . . . What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? . . . It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 8:28, 31-32, 34-35, 37-39.
As we go through life, we have many questions. We have questions with reference to both temporal and eternal things. The text quoted above raises one such question in our minds. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.” Everything works together for our good, even the things that we consider bad or evil. In the end, everything works for the good of God’s children. When sickness, business reverses, trouble of every kind, disaster, or even the death of a loved one occurs, in the end it all works together for the good of the children of God. At such times, we might say, “What shall we say to these things?” The apostle answers the question differently than we might expect: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
How do we know if God is for us? The assurance rests upon the fact that He sent His Son to be our Savior. “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” These words summarize our Christian faith. Christ died to wash away our sins. But we do not have a dead Savior; He is risen again! He came forth victoriously from the grave and conquered sin, death, and the devil. He ascended into heaven. He is at the right hand of God. He is in the position of power, and rules over all things. Now, He intercedes for us. How comforting it is to know that Jesus pleads and prays for us!
Let come what may; nothing and no one shall separate us from the love of Christ! As children of God, we can say with the apostle, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” We more than come out on top! Then, the apostle concludes, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We are tempted to say, “It was easy for Paul to talk that way!” The Lord stopped him in his tracks on the road to Damascus and called him to be His disciple. But can we be so certain in our faith? Sometimes we overlook the little things. Please note the little word, “us”! Paul was not writing just for himself. What Paul said, you can say, I can say, and every child of God can say: “(Nothing) can separate US from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” These words are the victory song of every Christian!
What problems or worries are resting heavily upon your heart at this very moment? For the strengthening of your faith, read again what is written above. It is one of the most majestic portions of Holy Scripture. Then, bow your head in prayer:
“Jesus, Lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly;
While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide, Oh, receive my soul at last!
Thou, O Christ, art all I want; More than all in Thee I find.
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name; I am all unrighteousness,
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.” Amen.