Neither Death nor Life

Happy Thanksgiving—I'm thankful for you this year.

Even the wind can be against our thanksgiving

Let’s be honest: this year has not been an easy one for many of us. There has been a mix of uncertainty, discontentment, sickness, loss, financial strain, and so very little time. But we’re still here. God hasn’t forsaken us, even when the storms make it feel like he has. And we need to be ready, because these storms seem to be getting stronger.

At church, we just wrapped up the Romans 8 study I’ve been leading. As Derek Thomas puts it, Romans 8 starts with, “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation.” God has been so good to me through this chapter. I now understand why Thomas calls it “the best chapter in the Bible.”

Here’s how it concludes:

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 in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38–39

God is generous, and his love never runs low. That’s the kind of love I need.

There’s one part at the end of Romans 8 that has always puzzled me: What does it mean that “neither death nor life” will be able to separate us from God’s love in Christ? How could life separate us from God’s love? Isn’t death the problem and life the solution? Well, there’s more to it in the broader context.

Earlier in the chapter Paul points out the sufferings of this present time (8:18) and the futility of this world (8:20). How even creation is groaning (8:22). He also points out how the Spirit helps us in our weakness (8:26).

This truth finally hit home for me. While I understood that death can’t separate us from the love of God. It’s also true that life cannot separate us either—life when it is difficult, filled with suffering, strife, and apparent futility. As hard as life gets, God’s love holds strong. We are anchored in the storm, and the rope won’t break.

I’m trying to pause this week. I’m trying to take a rest from the futility and vanity of life that can so easily dominate my thinking. I’m trying to actively remember all that the Lord has done. It’s so hard to slow down. There’s an ever-growing backlog of neglected tasks. There are so many things left unfinished.

And while reading and writing take time, I think they give more than they take. When I see that you wonderful souls are subscribing and reading words that I’ve written, I am thankful. Thankful that you’ve decided to take a few walks around the pond of life with me. I hope that something has resonated with you.

My message for you is a simple one: thank you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for joining me on this little pilgrimage.

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Happy Thanksgiving!