No Separation

Rom. 8:18-39

Paul's focus and hope are revealed in his words, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. His vision was centered entirely on the glory that was yet to come. This should not sound foreign to us, but it should be our focus and vision. Nothing in this life compares at all to the glory of the kingdom yet to come, and if we have trouble really believing that then we are planted way to deeply in this earth and this world system. We should be short-timers here, aliens and strangers just passing through. 

Paul explains how not only people but also creation itself longs for heaven, and in fact, is groaning for that transformation. We eagerly wait for the completion of our adoption as son, the redemption of our bodies. It is our salvation and our hope. Now we have the first-fruits of the Spirit but then we be glorified. God foreknew and predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brothers. Not only that but God called and justified us, and on that day, will glorify us. 

Now the Spirit knows our weaknesses even in how we should pray. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and according to the will of God because He is the Spirit of God Himself. For this reason, we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose. Not to say that suffering or bad things won't happen to us. Earlier in this chapter we learned that to be His child, a son, and a joint heir with Christ, we must suffer. But it is all in the will of God.  It is all for a reason and a purpose. And it is for our good because it leads us closer and closer to Him and to that day we will be with Him. 

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? What a glorious truth! Everything that happens in our lives is in His will, was set in place before the foundation of the world, and is ultimately part of our path to His glorious kingdom. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

Not even being slaughtered or intensely persecuted will change what God has set in place. Nothing at all! For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Father,

What a glorious passage! Thank You so much for having my life and all of its circumstances securely in Your hand. I know that I will never be separated from You and that I can never snatched out of Your hand. I know that You will be with me in the hard times, in the times that would normally make a person cave. But You, Your Spirit, and Your Son will be with me strengthening me to endure. Thank You.

In Jesus name,

Amen