Nothing Can Separate
For Meditation
If the Bible were a topographical map, full of diverse landscapes, then the book of Romans might be the highest mountain on the map. If the book of Romans is the highest mountain, then chapter 8 is the very peak. And if Romans 8 is the peak, then at the very tippy top, the vista from which you can see everything else, are the culminating verses, 31-39. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate you from the love of God.
Not only this is the most important news that you could ever hear, but this news depends entirely on the truth of the resurrection. As Paul says in another place, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Cor. 15:17-19). But because Jesus is risen, not only are our sins forgiven, but it is now impossible for us to be ever separated from the love of God.
Christ is risen indeed. Hallelujah!
Romans 8:31–39
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.