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 (NIV)
Nothing in Creation Separates Us
A man in line at the post office reads the sign over the window twice, then asks the woman ahead of him whether this is the right line for a passport renewal. She tells him it is. A minute later he asks the man behind him the same question. His folder is under his arm and the form inside has gone soft at the fold.
For I am convinced. Paul writes that about the love of God in Christ Jesus, and he holds it up against death and life, against angels and demons, against the present and the future and any powers, against height and depth and anything else in all creation. He asks whether trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword can separate us from the love of Christ, and he answers that in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
God has already done the thing that conviction rests on. Christ Jesus died, and more than that, he was raised to life, and he’s at the right hand of God interceding for us. The interceding is going on today, in the hours when nobody has it in mind.
Christ put that love where it is and Christ keeps it there, and the keeping runs at the same strength through whatever kind of week a person is having. It was already true of the man in line when he walked in the door this morning.
His number comes up and he steps to the window. At the right hand of God this morning the asking goes on, for people who aren’t sure of themselves and have never worked out how to be.
A Prayer to Remember
Set me to work today on one thing I’d only do if I believed you had hold of me, God. I woke up unsure of nearly everything about myself, and checking my own confidence hasn’t improved it. Your Son died and was raised and is speaking for me while I write this. Start from that end.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
