In medieval times there was a monk who announced to his listeners that he would be preaching the following Sunday evening on the “Love of God.” The following Sunday, as the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lit a candle and carried it to the cross where a likeness of Jesus hung. First of all, the monk illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. His sermon was finished.
Although my sermon this morning won’t be quite that short we will focus on the love of God. In fact in the text the Apostle Paul talks to us about God’s love – the kind of love that was shown to us through the death of his Son, Jesus. Paul encourages us to Cling to Christ’s Love. We are to cling to Christ’s love because that love will never cease. We cling to that love because it gives us the victory.
The words of God through the Apostle Paul are pure gospel. They are the good news of a Savior from sin and a Savior’s love that knows no boundaries. These words are good news for those who believe in Christ. Our God gives us some incredible assurance in these four verses.
He tells us to cling to Christ’s love because it will never cease. Nothing and nobody can keep Christ’s love away from us – even when we face suffering in our daily lives. Just look at the list of circumstances that Paul identifies to prove this point.
What about trouble and hardship? Can those things separate us from Christ’s love? What about when terrorists attack our country? Or when we’re faced with challenges at work or school? Are these proofs that Christ has stopped loving us?
How about when we’re persecuted for our faith? As people who believe in a loving, gracious, and caring God persecution can be hard to handle. It can be hard to understand. After all persecution seems like punishment for believing the truth! When you face persecution have you ever wondered if God still loves you?
What about the prospect of facing dire poverty? As the Dow Jones Industrial Average skidded to its second worst one-week point loss in history do we wonder if God is out to get us? If we should lose a job in this time of economic turbulence – would that be proof that our Savior has abandoned us?
What if we had been on board those hijacked airliners on September 11th or faced certain death in fiery inferno the World Trade Center or the Pentagon? If we would ever face grim death in such a violent way would that be evidence that God no longer cares about us?
What about when it comes to living with the pain of a serious disease or the pain of losing a loved one? If those troubles would come into our lives are they indicative that God is no longer with us?
What about now, as we face an uncertain future against shadowy enemies? The threat of prolonged battle looms on the horizon. Threats of counter attack and the Taliban’s promise to torture anyone caught as a prisoner of war cause our hearts to sink. Does our trust in Christ’s love for us sink as well?
What if we would be called upon to defend our country on the front lines of battle? Will Jesus be there us? Is there a place that I could go where God would not be? What if it’s a dangerous situation where my enemies are all around me, can I be confident that God will be there with me – with his loving arms wrapped around me?
Just in case he’s missed something Paul asks if there is anything in all creation that can keep God’s love away from us. Is there anyone who can cause Christ to stop loving us?
Paul’s answer is beautiful isn’t it? It’s simple, it’s decisive, it’s correct! Is there anything or anyone in the whole universe that can keep Jesus from loving us? No! Not a chance – it can’t happen. God’s love for us is enduring, it’s effective, and it’s assured.
What tremendous comfort in this time of uncertainty. What joy that assurance brings. What strength is ours because the love of Christ is always with us! Though we walk in danger all the way – our shepherd is and always will be with us! No matter what trials or difficulties we might face we can be confident that our Savior is actually using those times to draw us closer to his side. During this time of national crisis he is teaching each one of us to rely on him at all times and in all situations.
That’s why we cling to Christ’s love – because it doesn’t change, it’s not fickle, it’s not controlled by political opinion. Christ will never stop loving us. That’s our encouragement to remain faithful to him. That love is only enduring, but it is also powerful. It pulls us from the depths of defeat and gives us the victory in the face of all our trials.
Paul is convinced of it! That victory is his! That victory is yours too! Stand convinced of it! Why? Because God has persuaded you through the power of his Word. Through his Word he has made you aware of your sin. He has shown you your shortcomings – he has shown you what you deserve. But he has also shown you what he has done for you – he’s introduced you to the one who died for you. He’s shown you your Savior. He’s convinced you that victory is yours through the work of your Savior, Jesus.
He’s convinced you of this despite all outward appearances. Christians face many troubles, trials, and persecutions in this life. Christians aren’t spared the trials of this life – in fact, Christians face far more than anyone else. Christ told us that we would have to carry crosses, that we would have to suffer for his name. If you didn’t know any better you would have to admit that it seems like we’re losing the battle rather than gaining a victory! But thanks be to God that we do know better. I pray that we are all convinced of this fact!
That’s what we call faith! That’s saving faith because it trusts in the love of Jesus Christ. That faith is saving because it trusts in the one who saves. That faith is secure because it is built upon the one who is unchanging.
Because of Christ’s love for us we who had been conquered by the power of sin, death, and the devil have become the conquerors. Even if we should face death we are conquerors. Paul originally wrote these words to the Christians at Rome. These Roman Christians would soon be facing death because of their faith. Christians were put to death by lions under Emporer Nero. They were blamed for burning the city of Rome and they were executed – all because they called Jesus their Savior. Despite losing their lives – they won the eternal victory. They remained faithful and received the crown of life.
We too are conquerors. We are conquerors because Jesus won the battle for us. When he hung on the cross he died to give us the victory. He poured out his lifeblood that we might win that eternal battle against sin, death, and the devil. When he rose from the dead he broke the bonds of the grave. No longer would death hold mastery over mankind. That means we too have conquered the grave – we too shall rise from death and live for eternity.
While we sojourn upon this earth we enjoy an ongoing, glorious conquest. No longer must we live our lives in fear of the unknown or the trials of this life. No longer need we live in fear of the righteous judgment of God. We have become conquerors who can march through this life with our heads held high in triumph. We are on our victory parade through the enemy’s territory on our way to our true homeland in heaven. While we are here we have the opportunity to invite even more people to join us in this parade by sharing the good news of our victorious hero, Jesus, with them.
So let the world mock and ridicule us! Let them taunt and jeer! Let the devil send all the trials, temptations, and sufferings that he can dream up! Let him give it his best shot because it’s not going to work! There is nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, that can take the victory away from me. There isn’t anything that can take that victory away from you either – because we cling to the love of Christ, the love that knows no boundaries of time or space. That love has given us the victory.
Face this life and the prospect of death with confidence my friends, that come what may you will conquer all things through the love of the one who gave his life for you. Boldly proclaim the victory that is yours because Christ’s love for you will never stop! Cling to your Savior and his love! Never let him go because he gave up everything for you. Amen.
