Paul's Persuasion

Charles Naylor, 1920
 

Paul uses the term "persuaded" in the sense of assurance. When he said that he was persuaded of a thing involving God's attitude — he meant that he was fully convinced that it was as it was stated to be. He meant that to him it stood out as a reality. It was a thing that he no longer questioned.

In Romans 8:38 and 39, he speaks of one of the things of which he was persuaded. He did not seem to feel about it as some feel; and when they read what he says, they realize that they do not feel just as he did. He says, "For I am persuaded 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!"

Some people are all the time worrying lest they should be separated from God's love — lest God's love should be turned into hatred against them. They walk before him with fear and trembling. They are all the time questioning whether their conduct merits his approval. They are ever fearful lest they might do something that would bring his wrath upon them. Their life is a life of fear and of bondage.

Paul had no such fears and no such feelings. He knew that the great heart of God is a heart of love — a heart of tender pity, compassion, and sympathy. He knew that God is tender toward his earthly children. Why, even when we were sinners, Christ died for us! And the Father so loved us, that he gave his only begotten Son for our salvation. This love was for rebels — how much greater his affection for his sons! Instead of thinking that he might be easily separated from the love of God, and that he would have to be exceedingly careful lest he should be — Paul cries out, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (v. 35). By this he means, Who or what shall be able to separate us from Christ?

Paul knew something of the strength of earthly love. He knew mother-love — how tenderly it holds to its own. He knew that no matter where the son wanders . . .
mother-love goes with him;
mother-love calls him back;
mother-love yearns over him.
He knew love in other forms — how tenaciously it clings to its objects. But the love of Christ, or the love of God in Christ — is above and beyond all this human love. And so he cried out, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Then he named some things and asked if they could separate us from God's love, and when he looked at them all, he was still persuaded that nothing would be able to separate us from the love of Christ!

Paul says, "Neither death nor life." If death should lay his icy fingers upon us, it would be but the ushering into the more immediate presence of that great love of Christ! But if we must continue to live on in our earthly circumstances and surroundings, that very life cannot separate us from the love of Christ, for he will love us through it all. Through various changes, through all the trying situations that may face us — that love will hold us fast. Time and change cannot make Christ's divine love grow cold.

Again, he says, "Nor angels." God is in Heaven, surrounded by the angels, but he wants us to understand that those angels cannot take up so much of his time and attention, that he will forget us.

Nor can those evil angels that hate God and hate us separate between us and his love. Even Satan himself, their leader and master, has not power to come between us and the love of God.

Ah, soul, do not be afraid. Satan has no knife sharp enough to cut that love! He has no strength to tear the tendrils of Christ's love out of our hearts. He cannot burn those cords of divine love which hold us. Even all his legions cannot touch that love. Every Christian is safe in God's keeping.

Then he says, "Nor things present." O my brother, sister, do you believe that? Do you believe that the things of this hour, whatever they may be, cannot separate you from the love of God?

"Things present." How many things there are present. How many things there are that press in upon us! How many discouragements there are in life! How many perplexities! How many things that trouble! How many things that would draw us away! Yet, none of these things will be able to separate us from his love. None of these things will make him turn his back upon us.

"Nor things to come." Do you look into the future with dread? Do you see with forebodings the things that appear there? Do you think, "How shall I ever pass through it? How shall I ever overcome?" Ah, those things that are ahead of you, cannot separate you from God's love. That divine love is going to securely hold you through them all. The love of Christ is going to be your strength and your safeguard, your hope and your all. Cast away your forebodings. Look to God with confidence until the confidence of Paul enters your soul and you can say with the same assurance that he did, "I am persuaded!"

Again, he says, "Nor height, nor depth." It matters not if God is in Heaven, high above us. It matters not if he is so great, so majestic, so powerful. His height above us shall never prevent his love from reaching us and holding us up.

"Nor depth." It matters not to what depth we sink, whether it be depths of discouragement or depths of fear or depths in the feeling of our own helplessness. It matters not if God is very high — and we are very low; if he is very great — and we are very small. Our depth shall not separate us from his height. His unconquerable love will bridge the gulf.

O soul, trust in that love. Rely upon it. It will never fail you. It will securely hold you in the gales of life. Tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or perils or storms — none of these things shall be able to separate you from him!

The apostle continues to say, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us!" (v. 37). Christ's love will bear us up as with eagles' wings. It will make smooth the rough paths. It will give strength to the fainting heart. It will preserve us while in the midst of temptation. Even when we have come short of our expectations, when we realize that we have in a greatly failed — that love will not cast us off, but will hold us safe and secure until the end. Let us look to that love, and be confident, and rest in full assurance of faith, knowing that,

When the storm-winds rage, and the rain falls fast,
And the clouds hang low above,
I shall be secure until the storm is past,
For I trust my Savior's love!

He knows the way, and he holds my hand,
And he will not let it go;
He will lead me home to that better land
Just because he loves me so!

I will trust his love, for it e'er will last;
It is rich and warm and free;
Through the years of life it will hold me fast,
And my help and comfort be.

To my waiting heart all its treasures rare,
As a sparkling stream shall flow;
In the joy of God I shall ever share,
Just because he loves me so!