"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 which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This passage is likely familiar for many of you, as it comes at the end of one of the most famous and oft-cited chapters in Romans (read it in its entirety!).
As I thought on this passage, I dwelt on the phrase 'nor life'. It's common to think of Christ's salvation as being rescue from death as the final word- and it is certainly is that- we were freed from lifelong slavery to fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). But the older I get, I see and experience the truth of how life in all its twists and turns, can threaten one's sense of security in God's love. We can find ourselves seeking comfort and security in human relationships- and making them idols by prizing them over our Lord. Or we can seek that sense of security in accomplishment, wealth, power. None of these are bad things in and of themselves- viewed from a proper perspective, they can all be gracious gifts from God. But when they become ultimate, watch out!
In the parable of the sower, Jesus mentions those who receive the word, but are choked away by thorns symbolizing "the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things" (Mark 4:19). These things ultimately make one unfruitful for the Lord.
Yet even in the face of such real threats in life- Paul is sure (and we can be too!) that such things in life cannot separate us from the love of God.
But let's not allow ourselves to mistaken this passage to mean that since we are ultimately safe in God's love that therefore our lives will be free of hardship.
Recall that Paul is the same person who wrote in a letter to the Corinthians that he felt burdened beyond his strength so that he "despaired of life itself" (2 Corinthians 1:8) You may or may not have found yourself in a similar state of mind/heart as Paul- anyone familiar with Paul's life will know that he endured more hardship than most of us will ever know. And yet, because of Christ's death and resurrection, he knew he could be sure of his security in God's love.
May the Holy Spirit be reminding us of that rock solid assurance that because of Christ's finished work on the cross and His resurrection- that nothing- NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!
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