The Great Eight - Pt 42

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).

I can remember so many times I have held my sons or my grandchildren by the hand. While there is great comfort for me in holding them; there is great strength conveyed to them as well. On many occasions they have proven to me that they really believe Grandpa can fix anything. In fact I have a sign in my shop fastened to the shelf above my worktable given to me by my oldest grandchildren many years ago that simple says, “Grandpa’s Workshop. Broken Toys Fixed Here.” And, I have fixed a lot of broken toys. I’ve sewn teddy bears back together; I’ve glued handles back on rocking horses; I’ve mended what seemed impossibly broken. They think Grandpa can fix anything. Of course, I can’t; however, God can. This is how Paul comes to the next three declarations. Paul says nothing in time and space can separate us from the love of God (vv. 38-39). First time: ". . . nor things present, nor things to come . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God." Then space: "nor height, nor depth . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God." Paul is covering every possible base. He is saying it over and over. Then he says nothing in the present, nor future, can separate us from the love of God. The present-future pair covers our fear that though the present might be tolerable now, the future is going to be horrible, and we wonder if we will be able to stand it. Or we might fear that the present is so bad that we will not make it to any future. Paul’s response: It will never be so bad now or any time in the future that you will be separated from the love of God. Circumstances will never surprise God so that he must go back on this promise. The future is absolutely his and he knows it and runs it. If he says it won’t separate us, it won’t. And, then, the apostle says, nothing, high nor low can separate us from the love of God. The height-depth pair (v. 39) covers our fear that there might be a lurking in some distant place far away some menacing power that would surprise us and destroy our faith and separate us from the love of God. Nothing in highest heaven and nothing in deepest hell can separate us from the love of Christ. Sometimes I am that broken “toy.” I’ve got a ripped seam that needs to repaired; or, I’ve got a broken handle; or perhaps I’m just worn out and need refurbishing. God makes all of that new! And, it will never be too little, too late!