31 What then shall we say 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 with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded 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 sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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 8:31-39
Lately, there has been a lot of anguish in the world, in our country, and in our lives. There is no way around it. It is rough. As best as we can, we try to look on the bright side of everything, we try to twist any event to see how there might be some positivity; or especially as Christians we try to work out what God is doing in our or others’ lives.
But sometimes even the bright side seems dim and hard to find. It is especially in these moments that we lean on these verses that Paul has written.
If God is for us; who can be against us?
God sent his only Son for you. This is certain. Christ has died for your sake. For the sake of our fallen service men and women. For the sake of the children that have fallen at the hands of evil.
There is nothing on this earth that can ever keep us from His love.
Sometimes we feel God’s wrath instead of His love. May you know with complete certainty that God did not send His Son into the world just to condemn it. God did not send His Son into the world so that we can learn how to do better and get punished when we don’t.
God sent His Son so that you, yes you, may be saved by Christ alone. By His death and resurrection, you have already been given salvation.
For those of us that have already passed on, may you know that this was just as true for them. That they are forever resting in the peace and love that only God can grant.
May you know that Christ is for you now and forever.
This is most certainly true.
