Devotion for 3 June 2011, Anno Domini

Devotion for 3 June 2011, Anno Domini
“31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 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.” (Romans 8:31-39)
This text today is the text in which I find the greatest power and beauty of Eternal Love and Promise. I love these verses and they have been a restorer of hope to countless saints who have faced the passing of the darling of their hearts. Its grand panorama of the Love of Christ transcends the years, the centuries, the millennia of the ages, and finally rests its case on the vestibule of eternity itself. These verses do not compete for the sorrow of Calvary, or the morning peace of the Garden Tomb, or the majestic event of the Ascension; but it does constitute a beautifully orchestrated syncopation of the great notes of the meaning of Christ – His Life, Death, and Resurrection!
The text opens with a thunderous volley exceeding the deafening roar of the Naval bombardment at Inchon Harbor! “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” If we take this as a question, we would be mistaken. It is a stronger statement of fact than any question could convey! “What shall we then say to these things!” What, indeed, but we MUST say something! How can the vulgar vocabulary of man compare with the lyrical beauty of heaven? The words which follow in every verse are the very hope and promise of the Christian’s reward! Next comes a deceptively simple statement: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Who is mightier than God? Has He not cast down the great Dragon and Archenemy of our souls? There is none beside Him! I have read a popular bumper sticker here in Alabama which reads: “God said it! I believe it! That settles it!” The sentiment of the party who displays the sticker is surely sincere and well-intended; however, it misses the full measure of truth. The slogan could be shortened to make it more accurate: “God said it! That settles it!” If God said it, it doesn’t matter whether we believe it or not – the matter is certainly settled! Though we may field a glistening array of arms and troops upon the battlefield, without God, these movements are without hope. “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S….” (1 Sam 17:47) Instead of a mighty force of more than 100,000, we may field only 320, yet God, if He be with us, shall carry the day of battle (for it is His).
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Please consider the sense of investment made by God the Father through God the Son – for US! God’s commitment was total and all-encompassing! He was willing to commit His fullness of love through the offering up of His only Begotten Son for us. The offering was also made for the purchase of pleasure in giving us gifts – treasures for which we could not work, and a sacrifice which we could not merit. And then to learn that God the Father has combined with His Son to give us – not SOME things – but ALL things as gifts! What value is it possible to place on such an estate?
Beware of levying claims against the Elect of God. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.” God judges His own – the world judges itself through the Law! God grants justification to whom He will, and so, let no man deny the justification of the righteous.
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” If Christ is our Advocate with the Father, WHO can lay any condemnation upon us. It would be a fearful presumption of preposterous arrogance. Did any other die in your stead? Was any other worthy to do? Did any other make a Sabbath rest in the Tomb for you and arise on the third day (for you)?
And now, in the last verses, follow the ‘Opus Maximus’ of the present text: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” More appropriately, who would be so naïve as to presume to so separate us who are bonded to Christ from His Love? Do any of the elements mentioned succeed at the separation? Not a whit! Love is not withered by trial or heat of tribulation. Trouble may come to the mind, but cannot touch the soul of love. Neither can Love be starved out. In fact, a loving mother will starve herself to feed her child through the over-arching power of love. No lack of apparel or threat of danger will reduce the measure of Love – as a matter of fact, it will intensify the quality of it. The sword cannot trouble love for love cannot be divided.
“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yes, so accounted by the world, but not by our God. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalms 116:15) We are so accounted by the world for the sake of our Lord. He first loved us, and so we love Him. He died for us and, if needs be, we shall die a thousand deaths for Him.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” None of these presumed dangers, shortcomings, and perils can touch our souls to destroy them for we are not just conquerors of them, we are complete victors in Christ and in all things! And we are so because of His love for us. Are you beginning to get a notion of the power of His love?
“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.” It is simply exhilarating to read these last two verses with understanding! If death itself cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, then that love is not subject to death – it is eternal. And what of the Christian love we have for that precious mother, father, husband, wife, or child at death? What death? There is no death for that love in Christ! Do you begin to see the scope and beauty of this special love we share in Christ? Death has no power whatsoever over that love, neither life, neither the angels, neither Satan nor his minions, neither things of the present, or of the future, can interdict this abundance of love in Christ. There is no height which can exceed it high walls and no depth which can reach its foundations. In fact, NOTHING shall be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ is our Ark of Salvation more certainly than the Ark of Noah was to the eight souls during the days of the flood. He is our place of safety (sanctuary). If we are together with our loved ones (living or dead) we are alive in Christ and in His love. No ten-horned god of the Muslims, the Buddhist, the Hindus, etc can offer such a wonderful wealth of love and grace. They are no gods, but facades of deception and shame. Look to Christ!