-Joe Fornear
That would be really nice, right? Well, welcome to Niceville – He IS always on your side!
You might be thinking, “If that’s true, it sure doesn’t feel like it!” I can relate. During my Stage IV cancer battle, I wondered at times whose side He was on. My feelings and expectations often robbed me of the peace and joy He offered – and this when I needed Him most! Those who are “in Christ” can trust His promises. We can call them “facts.” I invite you to soak with me in this passage on His loyalty to us in Romans 8. And let fact triumph over feelings!
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:31-39
Seems Paul knew we would have a hard time believing in Jesus’ love and commitment to us, especially in hard times. So he jumps up and down here, using sweeping, all-encompassing language to make his point! Though He doesn’t specifically mention cancer, surely sickness fits in the “tribulation” category. So rest assured, no matter what is going on in your life: The love of Jesus Christ is so sticky – once it gets on you, no thing, sickness or person can get it off of you!
You may wonder about sin – perhaps our sin separates us from His love. Paul answers this too for those who are “in Christ.” It is God’s justifying power through the cross of Christ which makes this sticky love of Jesus even possible (Romans 8:33). God Himself HAS decided to make us forever clean of all sin – past, present and future sins! So who can condemn a person when God has justified her or him? “There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)!
One question remains – are you “in Christ”? Getting into Christ happens when we place our faith in Him – in Him only – to save us from our sin. God then places us and “hides” us in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 3:3). The Bible says we cannot earn this salvation by doing good works. Well, we could if we lived a perfect life! But if you’re not perfect, like me, you need His grace to be transferred into Christ. This is grace, an undeserved gift.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9
So if you’ve not yet placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, please do it now, and enjoy His sticky love now and forever. More on this in our good news tract, The Two Ways to Get to Heaven. And please let us know if you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior as result of reading either this blog or the Two Ways tract.
