Ewald Schmidt

“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 8:38-39 (NIV)

We face one big challenge when walking our path of life. We need to learn how to cope with loss. During our lives, so many things get taken away from us. Maybe it starts the day we lose our dummies as babies! As we grow older, more and more things get left behind. We outgrow our school days. Later on, we have to leave the comfort of our alma mater where we gained further qualifications. Not all our relationships last, we leave some friendships and romances behind in our wake. As we grow older, there comes a day when our parents are no longer with us. Our kids may emigrate. We suffer the loss of athletic ability, and later on, experience major loss of our health.

And one day will be our last day on earth, we do not know when that day will arrive exactly. We suffer the loss of possessions through crime, we may lose our freedom because of our faith, like the first readers in Rome. Almost anything in our lives can be taken away from us. The psychologist, Abraham Maslow, said that security is one of man’s most basic needs. We need to feel safe, and we lose that sense of security when we suffer major losses in our lives. If almost all can be taken away, what will remain?

We conclude this month’s journey through Romans 8 where the Holy Spirit reminds us of the one certainty that is rock solid for eternity. That one certainty that fills us with hope for evermore. That hope does not lie in us, we are fragile and weak. It does not reside in our circumstances that can change overnight. It does not lie in our possessions that can be taken. The one certainty in our lives is that God loves us. He loves his children with an eternal love. Our certainty is that there is no power in creation able to separate us from God’s love for us in Christ. His love is greater than the biggest challenge. His love is not influenced by death or sickness. No angel or demon is able to take his love away. This love is relational, it is built on the relationship that God has with me through Christ Jesus. It encompasses all of my life in all of its dimensions. Everything I am, I think, I do, is being transformed and renewed through the love of Christ for ever. This is the work of God the Holy Spirit, residing and working in me.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for the amazing journey of life. Thank you for all that you have taught me in Romans 8. I am a new creation through the love of Christ. I am set free, there is no condemnation any more when I believe in Christ as Lord of my life.  I am more than a conqueror, and no one will ever take your love away from me again. Help me to remember that when life gets overwhelming. Help me to follow where you lead, transform my life to honour you for evermore. Amen.