Former Blackout Artist

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

Have you ever noticed how fragile human love can feel?

Death separates husbands from wives. Distance separates friends. Time separates families. Misunderstandings separate lifelong companions. Success changes some people, and failure changes others. Even unseen spiritual forces, fears about the future, regrets from the past, and circumstances beyond our control can drive wedges into our closest relationships.

The list Paul gives in Romans 8 feels exhaustive. Death, life, angels, demons, the present, the future, powers, height, depth, and “anything else in all creation.” It’s as if he’s searching the universe for that one thing powerful enough to pry us from God’s embrace.

But he can’t find one.

Every one of those things may separate us from the love of other people. Death can take away the one you cherish most. Trials can strain a marriage. Distance can cool a friendship – something I’ve experienced quite often. Fear can isolate a heart. But none of them – not one – can separate those who belong to Christ from the love of God.

Notice that Paul doesn’t say we won’t experience these things. Christ followers still bury loved ones. We still battle spiritual opposition. We still face uncertain futures and painful presents. The promise isn’t the absence of hardship. No, the promise is the inseparable presence of God’s love through all of these things.

Why? Because God’s love isn’t based on our grip on Him, but rather His grip on us. If our salvation depended on the strength of our love for God? We’d all have reason to worry. Some days our faith feels strong, and other days it barely flickers. But thankfully our security rests in the consistency of His love, not ours.

The cross settled that forever! When Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross on Calvary, He absorbed every accusation against us and every judgment we deserved. In that very moment of the greatest love ever displayed, He was removing every single barrier that separated us from our Heavenly Father. There is now no condemnation, the Bible says. None!

Why? Because:

There is absolutely nothing in all creation that has the authority to undo what Christ accomplished.

There really are no words to describe the wonder and beauty of all this!