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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Living With Persuasion

The sun, moon and stars remain constant in the heavens as God ordained at the beginning of time. It is a marvel to behold their majestic nature as they cling to the infinite space above continuing to rule the day and rule the night. Beams of light bathe the earth from the surface of the sun for the millennia untold since creation. In the darkness of the night, the moon reflects the glory of the sun in a soft glow of moonshine surrounded by the innumerable flickers of life that make up the stars of the universe. Each day heralds the witness of the firm promise of God that all things will remain as they are as He ordained in the beginning. Following the flood, the Lord told Noah that while the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease. There is permanency in the promise of the Creator through the invisible attributes of God that are clearly seen. Nothing has changed and remains steadfast. This same promise is found in the love of God and His willingness to offer His only begotten Son for the redemption of mankind. When Jesus uttered His final words on the cross and declared His work finished, redemption rose from the grave three days later as the beacon of eternal hope that God’s word is certain to spread throughout the world. The gospel is not a message of doubt or possibilities but of certainty and truth that nothing can separate a man from the love of Christ and the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Those who are called and justified are glorified in the communion of the blood of Christ to redeem them from their sins. Not even death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will change the promise of God.

Salvation viewed from the bunkers of doubt where men hide in fear of God will never give the heart of God’s children the spirit of hope and eternal life. Satan seeks to cause fear in the hearts of the saved to believe that God would never love them enough to save them and nothing they could do would bring acceptance into the glory of the Divine. Often, the devil is instrumental in allowing a man to believe in God as long as the man does not believe that God would save him. This creates enough doubt in the mind and heart the disciple becomes unproductive, repressed and desiring rather fill their time with the carnal pursuits of life. Paul declares the love of Christ and the love of God are inseparable to those who called according to His purpose. There is no condemnation to those who belong to Christ, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. With no condemnation, there is no fear and with no fear, there is the security of the heart to know that nothing can separate them from the love of God. Having this knowledge invigorates the soul to believe in eternal life and look with anxious joy to a crown of glory with their name on it. Life becomes a journey of peace where the grace of God fills the heart to see glory in death and victory in the grave. Hopelessness is changed to a blessed assurance, fear to love and doubt to real hope.

Jesus died to save men from their sins and to bring to the darkness of Satan’s lie the light of His divine glory. This light that shines in the heart of the saved should never be made dim by the allowances of life or temptations of the flesh. Sin will have its way with the souls of the saved but through the blood of Christ redemption is given. Soldiers of Christ march with confidence the victory has been gained and Satan defeated. Those who run the race will believe in the crown of life that awaits them when they finish their race. Keeping the faith is the bastion of hope that remains undeterred in the heart of the saved.  Assurance is not lightly given. It is an eternal promise from the lips of God who cannot lie. Eternal life is not a chance proposition. It is not something that is a slim chance at best. Everything that God has promised has come true including the hope of heaven to His children who walk in the Spirit. The inheritance of glory is declared by Christ to those who share the inheritance of His Sonship. Israel received the Promised Land through the will of God. Those who perished in the wilderness did not believe and did not enjoy the land of promise because they lost hope. Eternal life is given to those who abide in the will of God and believe with all their hearts that God’s love is everlasting and His word is true. What can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord? Nothing.