Daily Archive for September 01 2018
WHO IS WITH YOU?
Who Is With You?
I like detective shows, film noir, and mystery movies. One of my favorite scenes, that is oft repeated, is when the good guys get in a vulnerable position with the bad guys. They speak so bravely, but have no guns or any visible means out of a situation that will surely result in the good guy getting, “Capped,” “Rubbed out,” ( E.G. Robertson), “Snuffed, “Deep Sixed.”
I mean how did the good guy get the nerve to boldly go in there and talk to the bad guys? As always, several officers are overhearing the conversation in the next room, and are ready to burst in just at the right moment to arrest the bad guys. With humans that could go wrong ,but rarely does, even in reality or film noir; but with God it is always a sure thing!
Romans 8:31-39 is the text for tomorrow. Never has a passage laid so much emphasis on the fact that God is never separated from us. Who is with you, in venerable situations makes all the difference! Paul said he, “Was convinced” that nothing can, “Separate us from the love of Christ.”
Do you really believe that? Before you answer, think of just last week. Did you really believe God would come through for you during those conversations? Was He the invisible support waiting in the next room, so to speak? If so, were are you intimidated?
Paul lived under the rule of half-crazy, fully- demonic Nero. Romans was written from Corinth about 55 A.D. Nero ruled, (rather terrorized) Rome from 54 A.D. till 68 A.D. An oppressive and difficult life for the Christians of that day.
Believing that you cannot be separated from the love of God made all the difference for them. They believed it then, against all emotion. They assumed it was true; and it proved out true; or you would not know this precious book of Romans, given to us directly by God.
“I cannot be separated from the love of Christ.” Yet I get together with the boys at work and it feels like God is not with me there. I am talking to my relatives, reliving the good old days, and it seems that it is a different world. I get to school and an attitude persist that makes it seem like God is far away. The spirit of this evil age seems like a brick wall, but in reality can be broken by faith. What kind of faith? The faith of a man or woman who knows the truth and acts on it.
God is always waiting in the next room, ready to rush in, and draw down on any danger. You don’t have to feel any emotion for this to be true in every area of life. Question is, will you believe it today and act on it? The next scenario will come; it feels like God can do nothing in that situation; act and speak as if He is going to use you for good in that situation, because He is! As many times as you allow it, He is going to be there and act.
“If God is for us, who is against us?”
JWP