CONVINCED
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord -Rom. 8:38-39 NASV
What convinced Paul of eternal security in the love of God? God had revealed the gospel to him, but Paul had experienced the power of God throughout his Christian life. He had lived through most of the things listed above. Paul had been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, hungry, cold, naked, and thirsty (2 Cor. 11:23-28) – just to name a few. He was constantly escaping death. Through all this, Paul learned that God never left his side. He gave him sufficient grace for the trial. He gave him strength when he was weak. Finally, when he was executed, Paul considered death to be gain (Phil. 1:21).
Look back at the darkest times of your life, your most painful memories, and your hardest battles. Those are the times when you will only see one set of footprints, because those were the times God carried you. Those were the times you saw the convincing proof and power of God’s love.
In my own life, I can look back to trials and see God’s hand in them. He has comforted my sorrows. He has walked with me when pain kept me from taking another step. He has enabled me to achieve things that were incredibly difficult.
Paul wrote to Timothy: “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Tim. 1:12b). Thank God today for His convincing love.
Copyright 2013 Carolyn Dale Newell.
A Mountain of Faith 