Nothing can separate us! What a powerful statement! Has anyone ever looked into your eyes and said those reassuring words to you? Were those words ever told to you by your parents, spouse or partner or a friend? How did those words make you feel? Have you ever said those words to any of those special people in your life? Well, one can only imagine the joy, security, comfort, and peace those words brought to your ears, your heart and to your soul.
Amidst the chaos and uncertainty in the world and in our lives during this pandemic era, those words are indeed good news. They should bring hope and joy and reassurance to all of us. Those words were said to us by the Apostle Paul. If perchance you have never heard them before, they are found in Romans 8:38-39. Listen to them: “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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Are those not powerful words my friends? Those are the words that we need to hold on to during this pandemic season.
You may be wondering, why was Paul so convinced that nothing could separate him from the love of God? You see, Paul knew his God. He knew God intimately. He did not have to ask anyone about who God was. Paul had already encountered the risen Lord on the road to Damascus and suffered many horrendous things for the sake of the gospel.
Paul had been put in jail many times, beaten with whips five times, beaten with sticks three times, stoned, and left for dead, shipwrecked three times, his life in constant danger, he had gone hungry and thirsty and was cold from not having enough clothes. Yet Paul was convinced that nothing could separate him from God’s love. Paul knew the circumstances of this world had no power over him. But, most importantly, was that Paul knew and experienced for himself God’s love.
Paul knew that regardless of the circumstances, and his own performance, that nothing could separate him from the love of God. Paul had a revelation that since the beginning God had loved him. Even when he was persecuting the church, even when rejecting Jesus, as the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, and we need to know that as well. No matter who we are, what we have done, God loves us all the same. He loves us no less, we are all good enough. He may dislike our behaviour at times and all the sins we have committed, but His love remains the same. My friends, God hates the sin but loves the sinner. That is awesome news for every one of us.
Paul knew of God’s love. Paul knew that everything depended upon God’s love – who God is, what He has done and will do. He knew that nothing or no one could change God’s love, and that God’s love never ends. God knows everyone of us and everything every one of us has done. He knows the beginning and the ending in the world and in our lives. Nothing takes Him by surprise, and He doesn’t make mistakes. He has the master plan and the blueprint for all the happenings in our lives and the world. God’s love for us is far beyond our comprehension. Even when we feel alone in our trials and sufferings, God loves us unconditionally.
God knows what is happening in your life and the world, my friends. He has everything under his control. God is for us. God is on our side. God’s love for us is unshakeable. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. No person, no event, nothing at all – can separate you or me from His love. No one can separate us. Nothing whatsoever can separate us. Not even death can separate us from the love of Christ. We need not worry or be afraid. God has conquered death already.
Death can separate the soul from the body. It can separate us from our loved ones, but it cannot separate us from the love of God. We must believe that, and hold on to that during these challenging times. Do you feel discouraged today? Do you feel like God has forgotten you? Do you feel that God doesn’t love you? Well, my friends, here is the good news – God loves you despite whatever you have done. You are important to him. He died for you. You just have to go to him and ask His forgiveness, accept it, and move on with your life.
Psalm 103:12 states, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Let no one condemn you. God is the judge of all. Walk in His love. Once we have given our life to Him, we are eternally secure, and there is simply nothing that can ever change that. Romans 8:31–38 states, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 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 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.
During these challenging times, we need to know and stand on God’s Word. When we are in the middle of a crisis, we have the tendency to lose perspective and focus. When we find ourselves in circumstances that we cannot fix or control, we need to stop and remind ourselves that nothing just happens, God is in control. We are not alone. God has it covered. Philippians 4:6-7 instructs us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Therefore, as we continue life’s journey let us remember the words of the hymn ALL MUST BE WELL written by Mary Bowley Peters:
Through the love of God our Savior,
All will be well.
Free and changeless is His favor.
All, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us.
Perfect is the grace that sealed us.
Strong the hand stretched out to shield us.
All must be well.
Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation.
All, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding,
Fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
Holy through the Spirit’s guiding,
All must be well.
We expect a bright tomorrow.
All will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
All, all is well.
On our father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
Or in living, or in dying,
All must be well.
Remember: we serve an unshakeable God.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in The Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 3. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre
