GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE Every person who is living by faith finds this text to be of great consolation. It contributes to their confidence, and enables them to boldly approach to the throne of all grace. If the love of men fails, the love of God will not. If they are assaulted by supernatural powers, they will prove impotent to move the believing one away from this Divine love. When Christ is dwelling in our heart by faith (Eph 3:16-17), He secures the love of God to us. Because of Him we benefit from that love. The Father will send us wisdom from above (James 1:17). He will give grace and peace in copious measures (Rom 1:7). Love and faith will be given to us by Him (Eph 6:23), together with mercy (1 Tim 1:12). "Everlasting consolation and good hope" will be given to us when God's love is upon us (2 Thess 2:16). – Tomorrow:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39, NKJV)
TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER
The Spirit has challenged us to consider the impossibility of any opposing force to separate us from "the love of Christ" and "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." In a sense, both are the same love. The point is that God's love is only realized in Christ Jesus. Lest that appear to be too cold and calculating, let us get to the heart of the matter.
Jesus is living for us (Rom 5:10). He is interceding for us, and mediating the New Covenant to us (Heb 7:25; 9:15). He is leading, feeding, and teaching us (Heb 2:10; John 10:4; Eph 4:20-21). His love is made known in these activities, and more. God the Father is blessing us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph 1:3). He is orchestrating our lives so that everything will work together for our ultimate good (Rom 8:28).
Now, what is there that can stop the flow of these benefits to us? Can tribulation stop the intercession of Jesus? Can distress cause God to cease to give us grace and peace? Will persecution, regardless of its intensity, stop the well of salvation from flowing into our hearts? Will famine effectively hinder us from receiving everlasting consolation and good hope? What of nakedness or destitution? Cannot a beggar full of sores be carried by angels to Abraham's bosom? And what of peril and the sword? Can they take a single spiritual blessing in heavenly places from us? The answer should be obvious to you. These benefits are beyond the reach of our foes. What is more, they cannot no stop them from passing through their territory to us, just as surely as king Sihon could not stop Israel from passing through his land (Num 21:23-26).
Can death or life stop Jesus from interceding for you? Can angels, principalities, or powers cause wisdom to cease to come to you from God? Is it possible for the things of today or the prospects of tomorrow to make God stop working everything together for your good? Is there a place too high, or a circumstance too deep for grace and peace to be multiplied unto you? Is there any created thing that can blot out the Sun of righteousness, causing it to rise no longer with healing in His wings?
The resounding answer to all of these rhetorical questions is "NO!" That is what it means to remain unseparated from the love of God. It means no one can separate you from the BENEFITS of that love. No one can stop God from blessing and keeping you. No circumstance can put you in a place where Jesus does not work for and in you. It simply is not possible!
Now, let your faith take hold of what the Spirit has said. If you have ears to hear, hear what He is saying to the churches. You have every reason to be strong in faith, giving glory to God. You have no reason to be fainthearted and unbelieving. The Gospel has declared God is for you, and has provided for your "eternal salvation." If God be for you, who really can be against you! That is something you can heartily embrace without any fear of contradiction!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for elaborating so extensively on Your marvelous love!