Hope when life gets tough

If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39).

When Paul wrote to the faithful living in Rome, it was not much fun to be a Christian.  Polite society didn’t understand their weird religion that emphasized service and humility over power and success.  Others laughed at Christians, making jokes about people who worshiped a God who had died.  Some claimed that Christians were evil deviants—after all, didn’t they claim to eat Jesus’ body and drink His blood?  Didn’t that make them religious cannibals?  Some even thought of Christians as unpatriotic—they refused to obey laws that conflicted with their religion. 

Rome was the capitol of a vast and powerful empire, the seat of government and the pinnacle of civilized culture.  Most of Rome’s citizens had a low opinion of this new cult centered around Jesus.  As a result Christians were often harassed, beaten and thrown into jail; some even lost their lives for what they believed. 

So Paul sent a letter filled with words of encouragement. If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Paul reminds his readers that everything we need to live happy and productive lives comes from God, despite what others might think.  Government officials are supposed to work for the Lord, caring for the people as God’s earthly hands—but God can provide what we need when politicians are misguided, arrogant, or incompetent.  God gave the greatest blessing of all—the life of His Son, offered on the cross to free us from the clutches of sin, death and devil.  If God was able to overcome these terrible threats to humanity, there is nothing that can stop Him from enriching our lives with His power and love.

Going on, Paul says who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Christians are often the targets of a vicious smear campaign.  People who have no idea what they’re talking about are quick to spread lies and misinformation.  They misrepresent Jesus and His teachings; they put words in His mouth or pick and choose from what He said.  And we don’t help matters any; since we are all sinners, we frequently disobey God’s laws because we’re jealous, mad, or impatient.  And as soon as we misbehave, critics are ready to pounce, pointing to our sinful behavior as proof that Christianity is nothing but a sham.  

Thankfully, unbelievers don’t get to judge us—that power rests in the hands of Christ.  It is the Son of God who suffered for our failings; He alone has earned the right to praise or condemn us.  He does not judge us as other people would; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:10).  Jesus decides our fate based on something only He can see—the contents of our hearts.  Faith is the determining factor—faith in God’s mercy offered through His Son. Jesus said, Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him (John 3:36). 

Paul continues: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  These words are tough to absorb; Paul tells the Christians of Rome to expect difficulties for being among the faithful.  They will be picked on.  They will be victimized.  There will be people who hate them and want them dead.  But in the midst of these hardships, there is good news—their earthly problems are only temporary and of limited power.  No one can destroy their relationship with Christ; Jesus said my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand (John 10:27-28).  Jesus also said, In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). 

Paul wraps up this part of his letter with words of confidence: I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  The fear of death and the temptations of life cannot tear a believer away from Jesus.  No spiritual being has the power to keep us from Christ.  No problem of today or tomorrow, no corrupt government or false religion, no discovery of astronomy or biological science has the power to destroy the faith that keeps us safe in Jesus’ loving arms. 

The world of Paul’s day is not so different from our world right now.  Christianity does not have the power or respect it once commanded.  There was a time when no European royalty could ascend the throne without the blessing of the church; these days, churches in Europe sit mostly empty.  There was a time when American schools used the Bible to teach our children how to read; these days, the Bible is not welcome in the classroom.  There was a time when social life revolved around the church; these days, people are so busy that church is often forgotten.  There was a time when you heard jokes about Jews and Muslims, but few dared to get laughs at the expense of Christians; these days, you can ridicule Jesus all you want, but watch out if you poke fun at any other religion.

Paul’s words to the Christians in Rome are still timely for us here today.  It is not always fun to be a Christian; there are people who don’t understand us, think we’re crazy, make fun of us, believe that we’re dangerous, or just want us dead.  Now, more than ever, we need to hear Paul’s words of reassurance.

If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Everything we need to live happy and productive lives comes from God, despite what others might think.  Politicians, social workers and judges are supposed to work for the Lord.  But what happens when judges declare that gay marriage is legal?  What happens when congress uses our tax dollars to fund research that destroys God’s gift of life?  What happens when social workers decide that a family struggling to make ends meet does not qualify for any more assistance?  Paul reminds us that God gives us everything we need.  He gave the greatest blessing of all—the life of His Son, offered on the cross to make us His forever.  If God was willing to give so much for we who deserve so little, we can be certain that He will make sure our needs are met, one way or another.

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Agnostics claim that we don’t know what we’re talking about.  Atheists say that we make up religion as a crutch to help us face the unpleasant facts of life.  Other religions condemn us for clinging to Jesus instead of looking at what other faiths can offer us.  People judge our faith every time a priest is accused of molestation or an evangelist is investigated for misusing donations. 

We all make mistakes, because we are all corrupted by sin.  There are times when we misunderstand God’s perfect word.  There are times when we turn away from Jesus’ teachings because we want the freedom to do as we please.  There are times when we are arrogant in our sureness of what is right and what is wrong.  Thankfully, God is merciful.  He is willing to forgive us if we come to Jesus on our knees, trusting in His love. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  In the end, it doesn’t matter what others think of us or our faith; God’s Son is the one who judges all.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  These words are tough for us to embrace; Paul tells us to expect difficulties as followers of Christ.  We will be picked on by unbelievers.  We will be victimized by those who think that Christians are easy marks.  There will be atheists who hate us and people of other religions who want us dead.  But in the midst of these hardships, there is good news—our earthly problems are only temporary and of limited power.  No one can steal the hope that fills our hearts.  No one can prevent us from joining our Lord in paradise.  Jesus said, Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me (John 12:26). 
 
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Death terrifies the average American; millions of dollars are spent on ways to delay the effects of aging and hang on to life.  But death holds no terror for us; because Jesus rose from the dead, we too will rise to new life, a life that is free of trouble and sorrow and pain. 

For most Americans, life is about the pursuit of pleasure—the thrill of feeling good, the joy of being popular, the satisfaction of knowing success.  But for us, life is so much more—life is about commitment and serving others.  Life is about taking responsibility for your actions.  We don’t want to live as slaves to pleasure.  We don’t want our years to slip away because we were too distracted by trivial things to notice the passage of time. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

A lot of people consider themselves spiritual—they look for answers in the unseen world around us.  But we don’t need messages from UFOs or alleged psychics like Nostradamus; we don’t have to consult a horoscope or practice witchcraft to give us confidence for the living of each day.  Through Jesus we have direct access to God Himself, and He promises I will never leave you; I will never turn my back on you (Hebrews 13:5).

Each night when they go to bed, many struggle with going to sleep.  They are angry at themselves for not getting everything done, or having to take shortcuts because of a looming deadline.  They kick themselves for speaking harsh words; they regret keeping silent when they should have spoken words of love and support.  And they dread the arrival of dawn; they wonder how the bills will get paid, how they’ll get everything done.  But we don’t have to toss and turn all night.  We have a Savior who listens to our prayers.  He forgives our mistakes.  He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).  He gives us confidence in the midst of turmoil.

People trust in government bailouts and social welfare programs.  They trust in peace treaties and international trade agreements.  They trust in manufacturer warranties and insurance policies.  But we trust in the Maker and Ruler of the universe.  While all human agencies fall short, God’s power never fails.

People look to the skies above for answers.  Astronomers gaze at tiny specks of light in the sky; they study the movement and color of stars, and claim they know how large and old the universe is.  Others look for answers in the microscopic world beneath us.  Molecular biologists experiment with DNA; they claim to understand the origins of life, and how to design organisms that conform to their own specifications.  But we worship the Author of Life; he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else…We are his offspring, and He loves and values us all (Acts 17:25, 28).

It’s sad, really.  The world rejects Christianity, and yet the world craves the very things that Christ has given us.  We have the answers to life’s hard questions.  We have a sense of direction when life is confusing.  We have the forgiveness that results in peace.  We have the hope for life after death.  Paul was sure of it.  I’m sure of it.  You can be sure of it as well.