You Cannot Be Separated from the Love of God
My daughters were five and three years old when their mom sent them in to model their new outfits for me. As their dad, I “oohed and aahed” over how beautiful they looked. Becca, at three years old, was satisfied with that and toddled back to Mom. Abby, at five years old, climbed up in my lap for a snuggle to enjoy the moment. I seized the opportunity to ask a question that I have asked many times throughout their childhood.
“Abby, do you know why I love you?” (This may seem like a strange question but bear with me).
She answered, “Because I’m smart and I’m beautiful!?” (Gotta love a kid with confidence!)
I responded by saying, “Those are things I love about you. But why is it that I love you?”
“Because I’m your daughter.”
“That’s right. And why is that so important?”
“Because that can never change.”
My children are more secure as individuals because they know that there is nothing in all creation—illness, accident, or their own sinful choices—that can separate them from my love. I will always love them because they are my sons and daughters.
The Apostle Paul assured us, “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.” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
What a tremendous promise! There is nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God. This brings true security.
Do you believe this truth when you are going through a hard time? The very context of these verses is Paul’s assurance that even in persecution and suffering, we are more than conquerors through Christ. Nothing can be brought against us that will ever separate us from His love (verses 35-37). Even if persecution or suffering ends with the death of the believer, we can be confident that “the mortal has been swallowed up by life” because “to be away from the body (is to be) at home with the Lord.” (see 2 Corinthians 5:1-10)
But what about our sin? Doesn’t the Bible say our sin separates us from God? Isaiah 59:2 does say, “your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (NIV). Remember that a good rule of interpretation is ‘Every text has a context.’ In Isaiah 58 & 59, God is chastising His people for practicing religious ritual while being hypocrites and oppressors of the downtrodden. A few verses later, the Lord says, “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” And, “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you…” (vs. 20, 21) An even greater context is the fact that we as God’s people cannot be physically separated from God because there is absolutely nowhere we can go that He is not present (Psalm 139). Our sin does impact the harmony of our relationship with God, but nothing in all creation can break the relationship or separate us from His love.
In the opening story, Abby responded based on feeling. She felt loved by me based on how the interaction went over her outfit. But we all know that moments of good feelings come and go. Life can be very challenging for many reasons. We make wrong choices that have negative consequences. We are persecuted because we bear the name of Jesus. Others make decisions that impact us negatively. And the basis of the trouble is that we live in a fallen world where sin, self and Satan have great influence.
But the wonderful news of the gospel is that based upon the accomplished work of Christ and our faith in Him, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Rom. 8:15, NIV)
Dear Saints, our security cannot come from this world. We cannot base our sense of security in the circumstances of life, whether they are positive or negative. Take heart in knowing there is nothing in all creation that can separate you from the love of God. And there is nothing more secure than being snuggled in the arms of our loving, all-powerful, everywhere-present Heavenly Father.
Do you know why God the Father loves you? I hate to break it to you… it’s not because of how smart and beautiful you are. The Father has adopted you and loves you because you are His child through faith in Jesus Christ! And that can never change.
