"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us? Who shall separate us from Christ's love?" (Romans 8: 31-35a)
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor 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)
You could see it in Spurgeon....and you could see it in R. C. Sproul....and Jonathan Edwards....and J. Gresham Machen. I mention only these four because I have either read much about it....or as in the case of R. C. Sproul.....heard it with my own ears. In fact there are probably more of whom you could say this about than those who you cannot say it about. David's 34th Psalm is about it....and many more Psalms. The book of Job is about it. Jeremiah lived it for over forty years. There are times when it seemed to them as if the whole world was against them....and even their own friends or allies were nowhere around. "Where is God? Has He abandoned us"....they might briefly think....because of our human frailty....but at the same time knowing full well that....no....God hadn't abandoned them. Martyn Lloyd-Jones labelled all of this....Spiritual Depression.
Folks....this is God's love....that for those like Spurgeon or Machen....who suffered humiliation and worse for their faithfulness to the gospel....that God will keep them....and bring them through the fire....even though they are weary from the blows! One has to be very....very careful when using the above verses on God's love for us....for we might also keep in mind the words of John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 3:9....
"And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham."
Or we might want to memorize the words of Jesus in the letter to the Laodicean church....that I used in a post only a few days ago.....
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." Rev. 3:19
On the surface we might have a disagreement here....but I think that we would agree if we take all of God's Word into account on His love for us. God is there for us and will never leave us but if we presume upon His love....then He will use His rod to awaken us....and His staff to bring us back. We would agree on that would we not? So the question then would be....''just what would this presumption entail?".
Is there a man reading this who can say that he has spent more time reading God's Word and praying and pleading for souls....even the souls of those he loves....more than all the accumulated hours involved in all the sports....watching them or playing them...or reading about them? I don't think that there is a man out there reading this who could say that! And that is only sports! Would it not be the same for other entertainments? What we have today is new. All of these sports....professional and college and high school and even younger is relatively new to America. It seems normal to us.....God's blessings so to speak....it isn't....and they aren't!
There is something terribly wrong in our logic here! Christ was nailed to a cross....to bring us out of hell...but we are far more interested in sports and enjoyments than growing in the grace and knowledge of Him! And yet then we stutter....or lash out....and proclaim when challenged on this that...."God loves us!"
I do not have to convince you of this. I only have to convince to meditate on this....ponder these things....for the answer is obvious. Yes God loves us....and is patient with us....but if we presume upon that love....then He will withdraw Himself. Look around at America friends....that is exactly what has happened. God has loved us so....that He will not let us continue on the path we are on....without warning us....and providing the way back on the right path.
