Secured By God’s Power

Romans 8:35-39

When my children were small, taking them into a crowded area required maintaining a constant contact to prevent getting lost. We soon figured out that if we depended on tem to maintain a hold, they might forget and let loose. If they tripped, or someone bumped into them they might not be able to hold on. We had to hold on to them because we were much stronger than they were, and it took far more to break the hold.

God recognized our weakness and forgetfulness. He did not depend on our strength to maintain our relationship. The Law had demonstrated that the weakness of the flesh would preclude attaining salvation. Instead, I Peter 1:5 describes the believers, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” He is holding us, whether we hold him or not. We might forget to hold on or lose our grip, but he will not.

Jesus described the situation in John 10:28-29. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” Only something strong enough to break God’s grip could take us away from him. I can’t even jerk myself away from the almighty God. What could possibly break his grip?

“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 thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37)

No attack using starvation, abuse, or murder can ever result in God deserting us, even if we turn from him. Peter was forgiven for his denial of Christ, and he will forgive us as well. We do not need to fear our response in such a case. It is our denial of him when we are not under duress that is a problem because it implies we are not his.

Because God is greater than all, and we can be separated from him only by breaking his grip, and nothing is strong enough. Our death cannot separate us from God, even if we commit suicide. Our life cannot separate us from God’s love, whatever lifestyle we might choose. Neither angels from God, nor Satan’s demons can separate from God’s love. Governments, and world powers don’t have the power to break God’s hold on his children. There is nothing in the present , or nothing that will come in the future that will have such power.

“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)

No amount of separation can overcome God’s love, and neither can any other created thing, including yourself. God’s power is unlimited, and it is what keeps you saved.