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 8:34-39 (NIV)
All things God allows in the lives of His heirs of mercy are ultimately for their good. The “thing” itself is not intrinsically good but it is used for our ultimate good – conforming us into the image of sweet Jesus. He was to be the firstborn among many brothers. God does not allow these “giants” to take us down, rather to conquer them – and this sometimes even by our death. Just as the writer wrote of the heroes of the faith in Hebrews Chapter Eleven. They were stoned, they were sawed into, they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins, goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world, was not worthy of them. And though dead, they still speak. And speak volumes, BTW. Their actions demonstrating their faith - not by mere words alone but most often by their very lives. If God calls us to something hard, He will most assuredly equip us. Rely on His strength – not on the mere arm of flesh or the mind of man as these will be found wanting.
God equips His saints to stand firm in all His will mature and fully assured. When we submit ourselves and go forth in God’s power, the adversary flees (James 4:7). He is no match for the strength of God. The provision God gives us of the Holy Spirit, allows us a well manned fortress and ample provisions. In all our adversities God allows us to be more than conquerors – the wording actually means keep on being conquerors to a greater degree or keep on winning a glorious victory – through Christ’s great love for us. Which nothing in this world can separate believers from. He will be in the fire with us. The Apostle Paul was totally convinced of this and every believer should be so as well. Absolutely nothing in all creation would be able to thwart God’s purposes for believers in Christ Jesus. And His purposes are always good. We are His. And Christ’s love holds us fast. When we store up in our hearts His great love for us as evidenced by His death and resurrection for us, it will give us a greater sense of peace and security from all earthly disturbances. Remember Heaven awaits His people and it is far greater than eye has seen, ear has hear or mind has conceived.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)