Nothing Can Separate Us From God

Romans 8:31-39

Most of us have experienced times when problems are mounting faster than you can handle them.  Everywhere you turn people wish you harm and there are only enemies.  Friends can’t be found anywhere.  Your life seems to be going downhill faster than an Olympic bobsled run.  In times like this you feel so alone with nowhere to turn.  Even family may be against us, compounding the loneliness.  For believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, though, we can take heart.  There is no pit so deep, no problem so difficult, no hours so lonely, but that we have Someone there with us to lift us up.

The Apostle Paul was quite familiar with problems.  He had plenty of enemies, both in the government and religious authorities.  Many times those he thought were friends turned against him.  He frequently traveled and experienced problems there, as well.  Life was not easy for Paul, but he knew that the Lord Jesus was with him, and no one could take Him away.  Let’s look at some of the truths God taught Paul throughout the trials of his life.

We may have enemies and people who wish us harm.  There may be people who cause us trouble, sometimes big trouble, and even pain, but nothing can ultimately triumph over us when we are believers in Christ (vs. 31).

Someone may feel that they are just not good enough to be accepted by God.  If God was willing to give His Son to die for us, He would never hold back His gift of salvation for you (vs. 32).  No one is “too bad” to be saved.  Since Jesus gave His life for you, He won’t turn around and condemn those who call upon Him for salvation.  Nor will He withhold what we need to live for Him.  God has judged those who have accepted His Son as “not guilty”.  We are acquitted. Satan is the one who accuses us.  Jesus is our advocate, and He stands at God’s right hand defending us (vs. 33-34).  When we pray we are never praying alone, as Jesus is praying for us.  We don’t have to be eloquent.  Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf.

No matter what may ever happen to us God will always love us. When going through desperate trials don’t turn away from God, instead turn toward His love.  In the midst of our trials we may feel like we’ve been abandoned by God. That is impossible, as nothing can separate us from Him (vs. 35-39).  His presence is always with us.

Paul went through all of the various trials he listed in this passage, so he knew first hand that God will be with us and carry us through them.  None of these will separate us from Him.  All of the trials in life couldn’t take Jesus from him. His enemies would try to kill him, and eventually they did.  Even death couldn’t take Jesus away.  All the demons in hell (the principalities and powers in vs. 38) would never ultimately win.  The same goes for us if we have Jesus as our Savior.  With Jesus on our side we are more than a conqueror (vs. 37).  We have eternal victory.

Human love can, and often does, fail.  It is fickle and changeable. How many people heard vows on their wedding day, only to be betrayed and forsaken a while later?  God’s love is unchanging and unconditional.  Once we are saved nothing can break our bond to him (John 10:29).  Nothing can separate born-again believers from God’s love (vs. 39).  He won’t love us any less if we sin. God doesn’t like that sin, and we need to confess, repent, and forsake it, but He still loves us.  Nothing in life’s path, from beginning to end, can separate us from Christ’s love.

Throughout all of our troubles, remember God will always meet our needs.  He is always with us, and will never leave (Hebrews 13:5). Trials often make us feel like we’re all alone, but God’s love is forever, and we are never truly alone. Like a parent taking a child across a busy street, He has a firm grip on our hand.  It’s not the child’s grip on the parent’s hand that counts, it’s the parents. God’s grip on us is secure, and He will see us safely into His presence.