Feeling like you have been abandoned is one of the worst feelings you can have. It is very devastating when one’s spouse walks out on them. A lifetime of traumatic emotions need to be dealt with when a young child is abandoned by their parents. It is also very hurtful when your friends abandon you, especially during a time when you need those friends love and support the most. Yet they have turned their backs on you. So who can we trust to stand by us? Who can we trust, that their love for us will remain steadfast and true, and not fizzle after a short time? We seek a love and faithfulness that remains strong, despite any trials or hardships. Can we find such a thing, or will we be abandoned yet again? Paul gives us our answer in our Scripture passage today from the Book of Romans.
As Paul closes out the eighth chapter in his letter to the Romans, he gives us three assurances. The first is that God will always meet our needs. The second is that we are never alone. God will always be with us. And lastly Paul assures us that God’s love is eternal.
When we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we are adopted into God’s family. We have a more sure family than any earthly one. God becomes our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus is our Big Brother. For those who might have felt that their family never wanted them, or who were actually abandoned by them, this is a blessing. God’s love is strong and true, and as Paul tells us, nothing can separate us from that love. His love isn’t fickle, like so many found their spouse’s was. God promises to stand by us, especially when the trials come piling upon us. He will never turn His back on us, like a faithless friend might.
If God gave His Son for us, He isn’t going to hold back His love for us (vs. 32). If Christ gave His life for us, He isn’t going to turn around and condemn us. He will never withhold anything we need to live for Him. Unlike faithless friends or family who may have abandoned us, Jesus is also our faithful Advocate, our attorney in defending those who have a saving relationship with Him (vs. 33-34). He is in God’s presence, rising to our defense, offering intercession on our behalf. It is Satan, not God, who accuses us. Jesus is our Advocate. With Him on our side, who can successfully accuse someone whom God has declared righteous?
Fears are numerous in life. However, by God’s grace there is also hope. Paul knew fears, but he was sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love, which is ours through Christ Jesus. We will never be abandoned by Him, no matter what we are going through. What we read in this passage isn’t just a list. This was also a personal testimony from one who had personally survived assaults from these attacks, and through Jesus, he emerged victorious. No matter what happens to us, or where we are, we can never be lost to God’s love.
We belong to God and He belongs to us. Our work is to cast our care upon God. His work is to take that care. Through Jesus we are more than conquerors (vs. 37). We conquer completely. It is Jesus’ strength and His power that has secured our victory. Don’t let events and circumstances in life spook us like a skittish horse. God is with us. He holds the reins of our life, and we can trust Him.
Nobody can take away the benefits we have received when we get saved and become a part of God’s family (vs. 38-39). When we accept Jesus, He adopts us, and that family is truly a “forever” family. It is not our grip upon God that keeps us safe. It is the power of His grasp upon us. No one can take us out of His grasp (John 10:28-29). Once we are in His hands, He will not let go. We are doubly safe. The Father has one hand and Jesus the other.
This is good news for all believers, and especially good news for those who have ever felt abandoned by anyone, especially someone who should have given us love. Jesus suffered so that we will never have to experience separation from the love of God. Nothing in life, from beginning to end, can separate us from Christ’s love.
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