God is FOR us. Therefore none of these things can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Death can’t separate me – because my manner and time of dying is totally under God’s control and when it happens I will not taste death but slip from discomfort (even excruciating pain) to spring up into the light, comfort and knowledge that the face of Christ will immediately greet me with.
Life can’t separate me – because even though life might be too hard, too scary, too troubled or too distressing, it is not worth comparing with the glory that is coming towards me like an unstoppable nuclear blast.
Angels (good or bad) can’t separate me – because Jesus Christ is as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs (Heb 1.4). The Son uses the angels as his messengers (Psalm 104.4 He makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.) They must serve his purpose and his purpose is to keep me bound to him by love.
Rulers can’t separate me – because the only rule as far and as long as Christ determines. The moment Nebuchadnezzar went too far and thought of himself invincible, God took away his sanity and he grovelled on the grass like a wild animal. Not too long from now, Robert Mugabe, the scourge of his people, will succumb to age. His mind will turn and his breath will fade, because Christ rules rulers.
Present things can’t separate me – because the current social, political and atmospheric climates are orchestrated by Christ who sustains the universe by the word of his power (Heb 1.3). Nothing in the present time is running out of control; everything is wisely supervised to provide the best conditions to bring out of the world all those God has prepared for his kingdom.
Things to come can’t separate me – because although the future is not known to me, Christ has his hand on the scroll. He is unrolling the master plan unerringly. He has revealed in his Word that he will be personally bringing the current state of things to a close and that he will reveal his kingdom for all to see and then renovate the earth and universe.
Powers can’t separate me – because even malicious powers such as evil spirits and Satan himself can only act within the lines marked out by Christ. While they have some temporary influence to engage with sinners and prove the destructive ruin brought about by sin, they have no authority over Christians. Little children you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4.4.
Height can’t separate me – because although Christ dwells in the heights and his thoughts far, far above my thoughts
[For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55.9)] – even so, his word is near me and in my heart (Rom 10.8). He is a friend that is closer than a brother (Prov 18.24). Jesus prayed that it would be: I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one. John 17.23. Jesus is not too high so I cannot reach him. Do not say, “Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down). He came down and close!
Depth cannot separate me – because although I often sin and reveal the pit from which I have been dug (Isaiah 51.1,2) God has lifted me up and placed me on a rock. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. Psalm 40.2. Christ has already gone to the bottom of the grave to ensure that I do not end up there. God’s arm is not too short to save. Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,or his ear dull, that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59.1. My unworthiness cannot separate me from the love of Christ. Even the deepest part of my depression cannot separate me from the love of Christ.
CONCLUSION:
So let us throw off every weight and sin that clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us – looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God! Heb 12.1,2
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