Nothing can separate us

 


Who shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or death?

No other time can we relate to these verses better than now. Our nation is in the darkest hour, with extreme circumstances - the unabating pandemic, collapse of healthcare, dysfunctional government and political woes. Corruption, lawlessness and injustice. When death is ever looming and there’s no goodbyes with loved ones. Can extreme pressures from the outside and inside destroy our faith? Can that drive us to reject Christ? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? In Romans 8, Paul wrote to the churches in Rome from Corinth, not knowing it would soon be his personal testimony. 

What do we tell our children? I don’t blame them for feeling overwhelmed by the bombardment of negative news. We welcome a short reprieve from Tokyo Olympics and some inspiring stories from those who have to overcome the odds in their lives and journey to the Olympics. In the midst of a global crisis, it's refreshing to see resilient people who are committed to their lives and their goals.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us. What holds us is the love of Christ for us.  

For I am convinced – are you?  Are you convinced of this great truth?  I am persuaded, I am confident that neither death, the great enemy, or life with all its dangers and difficulties, its temptations and troubles, nor angels,  nor principalities, unholy angels, demons, nor things present, nor things to come, the here and now or the future, nor powers – nothing, nor any other created thing, nothing in life, nothing in death, nothing in the world of angels, nothing in the world of demons, nothing in time, nothing in eternity, no miracle power, nothing on earth, nothing in heaven from the edges of space, nothing, no created thing in the entire created universe will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord - John MacArthur sermon on Romans 8:35-39.

That is because we are kept by the Holy Spirit. We are prone to wander from His love, but it is only possible to remain faithful because God who keeps us enables us with His power.

Stranger still, though the whole world is affected by Covid-19, we are not all in the same boat. Some countries have done far better in minimising disruption to daily lives and getting close to old normal days. But for us, it’s like no light at the tunnel and we learn to accept living in isolation, home quarantine, movement controls and limited physical interaction.

How do we give a message of hope to the younger generation? That tough times do not last, the best is yet to come? Don’t look back? Every day, we are reminded that life is so transient and fragile. We cannot assure our children what will happen tomorrow. How do they go on to live in fears, anxiety and suspicion? How do they go on when there is sudden death in their family? The moment we take our eyes off Jesus and turn to our worldly realities, we will definitely sink in the water.

Lord, teach us to give thanks for our daily bread. I looked out the window and saw two hardworking, bulbul birds building a nest. It’s common to see their nests early of the year, but uncommon in August. Soon, I checked out their simple, flimsy nest and saw an egg, few days later, another egg. Total two eggs. With each passing day, the nest is exposed to hot and wet weather conditions and many risks and dangers, yet our Heavenly Father takes care of them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 


We long for a safe place. David knew where to turn for refuge when his troubles multiplied. He knew God as His refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46). Our shelter and protection is not a place, but a Person. When troubles come, when we trust in Him, when we pour our heart out to Him, God is a refuge for us. But sometimes, we are seeking a hiding place. As David learned, the Lord is willing and able to be that hiding place (Psalm 62 & 32).

"Take courage. Do not be afraid. If you want to save your own life, you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it."

 


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