Stand!

Stand! 

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. Romans 8:39 KJV

In order to fully understand the basis of today's extract, it is important to consider one of the verses just before this one. It asks the question: who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The answer to that question can only be best viewed from my understanding of the love of God which I have received in and through Christ. It was love that drew up the plan of salvation, and even in the centuries before Jesus came physically came to the earth, it was love that kept the earth ticking and not destroyed due to sin. Left to the devil, man's sin in the Garden of Eden would have been the end of man, but it pleased God to hold off the destruction of man until the full measure of his love had been revealed. 

It was love that brought the king of glory down in human form to the earth, and not only that, but for the king of glory, the creator of the earth, to submit to the ignoble death on the cross of Calvary. It was love that made the creator submit to the mockery and beating by the ignorant created, who thought they were exercising their power over Jesus at the cross. Little did they know that it was love that kept him at the cross, even when it was possible for him to walk away. The hope of our eternal devotion to him and appreciation for all he had done kept him on the cross, into the grave and into the hope sealed by his resurrection. 

It is love that still reaches out to all men, irrespective of age, gender, race, creed or tongue. It is love that keeps calling out to all men, offering them the life that is possible in Jesus who died and rose again. Love is the message that the world today needs, because it needs to know that there is no sin that this love cannot forgive, if it is truly repents and returns to God for cleansing and a new start. If God could give up his own son for the sins of the world, what is that thing then he will withhold from those for whom his son died? If he freely gave us his son, what price will he demand from us so we could lay our hands on the things that the son offers? 

That love still calls out today, asking us to respond to him with all our hearts. Nothing must stand in the way of my response to and embrace of all that Jesus is and offers. Life has been bought for me, and sealed by the life of Jesus. I must know that one day, I will give an account of what I did with the gift I was given. One day, my bank account balance, circle of influence, power, position and privilege will not matter but the only thing that will count will be my response to and acceptance of all that Jesus did for me. What will my account read today if today is that day? Have I embraced and accepted that love? It's free but my eternity hangs on my paying the price to get it which is a total surrender and embrace of that love. While there is still time, I had better do it. His time of favour is here.