I was listening to an old album the other day called, “You alone are God”, from One Voice. One Voice was a series of albums bringing together some of America's top worship leaders from various denominations and backgrounds. Their aim was not only to produce excellent worship resources, but also of building unity in the body of Christ. The album was released in June 1998. The music on it I find is fantastic, but the very first track ‘What Can Ever Separate Us from Your Love’ featuring worship leader Eddie Espinosa is the one which set things going for me. That particular song was written with Romans 8 in mind. In particular verses 38 & 39: "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."
This is one of the most famous chapters in the whole of the bible and one which gives great encouragement. Many theologians consider it to be their favourite passage mainly because Romans 8 begins and ends with declarations of the Christian's absolute security before God. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, and nothing will ever be able to separate us from His love.
Looking around us observing the state of the world these days can be a challenging experience. One which could quite easily tip the scales for some. Paul himself struggled from time to time and you see this when you read chapter 7 of Romans, especially the last part. It would appear he is having this internal struggle, but as we enter chapter 8 he looks to have come out of it. Chapter 8 opens with these words: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”. Such welcoming words don’t you think?
Matthew Henry puts it this way: “He that has prepared a crown and a kingdom for us, will give us what we need in the way to it. Men may justify themselves, though accusations are in full force against them; but if God justifies, that answers all. By Christ we are thus secured and we have such a Friend at the right hand of God; all power is given to him.”
It doesn’t really matter then what the world throws at us we are surrounded by His love. So often we need reminding of that fact. It could also be summed up in another song which goes to the tune of the Flintstones:
God's love is the best love
that the world has ever, ever known
deeper than the deep sea
is the love that God above has shown
Higher than a rocket up in space
Wider than the total human race
God's love is the best love
that the world has ever, ever,
has ever, ever, has ever, ever known.
Tom Bonnar