If God Be for Us… And He Is! Part Two
Romans 8: 31
God’s Word gives reason for being encouraged.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
“Hey,” comes the response, “I can give you a long list.”
Observe virtually any secular entertainment program and you will see a philosophy that opposes virtually every Christian virtue.
Listen to an interview on MTV with Queen Latifah as she is asked about the sin of pride. “Pride is a sin?” she responds, “I wasn’t aware of that.”
Former actress Kirstie Alley adds, “Some idiot must have made that up.”
Pride, the original sin of Satan, is considered the standard for today. Scripture says, “The Lord detests the proud of heart” (Proverbs 16: 5).
The text does not imply there will not be personal opposition in life. A better understanding is gained from a modern translation which renders it: “If God be for us what does it matter who may be against us?” (Norlie Translation) Thus, those in Christ are depicted as being in a no lose position. It does not imply we won’t be opposed, resented, disliked, or even attacked. We will, but if everything is alright between us and the Lord what does it matter who opposes us?
Living proof of this was enacted by five Baptist missionaries in Tanzania as they knelt, praying, and holding hands. Their kidnappers delayed their execution arguing whether to shoot them together or separately. One of the missionaries, David Moreland said, “I thought I was holding my wife’s hand for the last time.”
Ten-year-old Joanna Giddens said, “I wasn’t scared…because I knew that with God everything would be alright.”
Sandra Harrington said Romans 8: 31 kept running through her head: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God — not even death.”
Upon hearing their prayers the kidnappers decided to drug them and leave them rather than kill them. They awoke 18 hours later to the sound of a rescue plane. Harrington said, “We could be dead — and God would be great, but He intervened, and I am very grateful to Him.”
Even when the opposition pulls the trigger God is still great. Even when we are faced with formidable opposition we can’t be separated from the love of God.
If they could apply God’s word in such dire circumstances you, by relying on God and His Word and find peace and gain power to carry on. Why not do it?
There is no exemption from problems and no immunity from challenges for the believer. Even they have a part of life.
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (I Peter 5: 10). “After” we have suffered a while, the ultimate is glory.