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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 38-39.
I miss my parents! They went to be with Lord a long time ago. But they still define me. The other day I received a long-distance call from someone in my village in Kenya that I could not recognize. As I covered my embarrassment by blaming my memory and pressed him to identify himself, he responded emphatically: I am a son to the brother of your great grandfather-Ngonga Kodima.
This introduction drove home the truth that I can never cease being the child of my earthly parents despite the long duration of my painful loss and how far I live in America away from my village. At conception and immediately at birth, I became the child of my parents forever despite my age, status, or residence. The cutting of my umbilical cord did not separate me from my mother but instead ushered in a relationship where she and her husband called me their child.
This inescapable reality struck me that we cannot cease being children of our parents just like we cannot cease being God’s children once we are born again. There is no way we can be unborn physically, neither can we be unborn spiritually. When we receive Christ into our lives, are saved by his grace, we are born forever into the family of God.
Our devotion text reminds us that our status as beloved children of God is eternal. None or nothing, in any time or place, can separate us from the love of God. Love of God is never affected by significant changes in our positions or situations. It cannot be taken away by any angels, principalities, or powers. God’s love is present with us. It is everywhere we go. The magnitude of height, depth, or even the enormity of space is inconsequential before God’s lingering love.
Nothing in present life or death can separate us from God’s love. We live or die in His love. The identity of our security is a matter of life and death. Nothing in our current or future experience can separate us from God’s love in Christ. He does not punish us with loss or sickness when we make a mistake, even though there may be consequences for our actions and inactions. We get it wrong when we equate God’s love to what we have or do not possess. Money and status do not benchmark this love.
Despite our present situation that may include the fear of living and dying, we must never forget our identity as children of God. Instead, we should be captivated with his purpose for our lives regardless of whether it looks like we are not whole or successful. God accepts us the way we are and will never desert or stop loving us. No depth in our current misery is too deep for his love to find us. Jesus preserves us for everlasting joy in his presence despite misery and even mortality.
Prayer:
Precious Lord.
When I feel abandoned and all alone,
Remind me of your abiding presence and love.
As I look forward to your relief in my struggles and frustrations,
Let your grace comfort me.
Amen!