“For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love:
neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers,
neither the present nor the future, neither the world above
nor the world below – there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able
to seperate us from the love of God which is ours
through Christ Jesus our Lord”
(Romans 8:38-39).
Certainty means assurance, certitude, conviction, persuasion, and evidence. We all need and want to feel secure in our lives about our health, our belongings, our resources, and our comings and goings. There are dozens of different insurances – life, property, and liability – that attempt to bring security in face of unforseen circumstances.
Romans 8 presents the best and fullest insurance policy. It begins by saying that there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ and ends by saying that nothing can separate us from the love of God; absolutely nothing in this life, in the universe, in time, below or above, nothing that could happen. What more could Paul have said to make us feel secure?
God offers us His righteousness; that is why we cannot be condemned. He offers us His Spirit; that is why we can overcome the flesh and live according to God. He offers us His glory; that is why we can overcome tribulation.
It is the love of the Father, who sent His Son and revealed His love to us; it is the love of the Son, who offered His life and intercedes for us; and it is the love of the Holy Spirit, which convinces us of sin, guides us to justice, truth, obedience, and testimony.
With full trust in the saving love of God, Paul emphasizes the divine plan to restore in mankind the image that was lost. This restoration and salvation comes from the One whose purpose to save is so powerful that nothing can make us lose that salvation, unless we reject it. Hence, the apostle considered it imperative for all of us, himself included, to proclaim our trust, gratitude, and obedience.
Our certainty is not based on the fragile and inconstant love we may have toward Him, but on the invariable and limitless love God has for us. Paul had all the answers, al the requirements, and all the assurances to declare, completely convinced, that absolutely nothing could separate him from that love.
The same Paul who says in Romans 7 that there is nothing good in him is the one who affirms that nothing can separate him from that love, and the same one who tells the Philippians and us:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13),
Only God can take care of everyone at the same time.
He can take care of me and you as if we were the only ones
in His entire universe. It would be good to remember that
“What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become
is our gift to God” (Eleanor Powell).
May nothing separate us from that love.
God bless you…