The Great Eight - Pt 41

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 in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 ESV).

Next the Apostle Paul says there is not a cosmic or supernatural power great enough to separate us from the love of God. He uses three words to describe these: angels, rulers, and powers. These three words are designations of angelic or demonic beings since "angels" are mentioned first in the group. Paul’s point is: there are no cosmic or supernatural powers that can separate us from the love of God. These powers were decisively defeated at the cross (cf. Colossians 2:15). When Christ rose he was exalted "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion" (Ephesians 1:21). So, even though these powerful beings are real and determined to hurt us at every opportunity, they cannot do last harm to God’s elect. I have pastored and counseled people of all ages for nearly five decades now. I have witnessed just about every possible attack from the enemy of the elect. Satan and his demons are nearly limitless in their imagination to use circumstance and our weakness to shake us from our hope and joy. Some have said that while demonic powers cannot rip us away from God’s love, our poor choices can. Tragically there are those who have come to adopt that as truth in their lives. They believe they have gone too far, fallen too much, and grace is simply not enough to cover them. Scripture teaches just the opposite. Regardless of how far we may have wandered; no matter how badly we may have failed; there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. The only separation we may feel is from the false shame and guilt we have convinced ourselves to adopt as truth. Perhaps this is at the root of why I love the Parable of Prodigal Son so much (cf. Luke 15:11-32). The prodigal takes his portion of his father’s inheritance, wastes it, finally coming to his end feeding pigs and starving. There is nothing of the picture we are given of his failure that would lead us to believe he could ever return to the good grace of his father. Yet, when he reaches his lowest point, he remembers that even the servants of his father live better than he is then living. He determines to go back home. He imagines crawling back, begging his father to just allow him to be a servant. Then grace is realized for what it has always been. There was never a time when he was not his father’s son. He is welcomed home with a glorious celebration. All of his failure, all of his pain and trial could not separate him from the love of his father. Wherever you are, you cannot be any further away from God than he was. Just come on home!