I Am Sure of This – God’s Eternal Love

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 (ESV)

George Matheson was born in Scotland in 1842. As a young boy, he realised that his eyesight was failing. His failing eyesight did not deter him from following his dreams of studying theology and becoming a minister. By 1866, he had graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a master’s in both philosophy and divinity. By this time, Matheson was almost completely blind, but was able to complete his studies with the help of his sister. She learned Hebrew and Greek so that she could read the original Biblical and historical texts for him. She was his closest companion, confidant and faithful assistant. This, however, came to an end after twenty years when she got married. This brought Matheson great joy, but also deep sorrow. On the night of his sister´s wedding, feeling dejected and alone, he penned the hymn titled O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.

O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee

These first two lines he wrote were revelatory words from God. He realised that God’s love for him was far greater than his sister’s sacrificial love. In that moment when he felt an acute sense of abandonment, God gave him the overwhelming assurance that His love would never let him go and that nothing could separate him from His eternal love.

God’s Sacred Promise

We have all experienced adverse events in our own lives that may have caused disappointment and a sense of abandonment.  We wonder, “Where are You, God?” But Paul makes it clear in his letter to the church in Rome that God is always with us. His love is always with us (Romans 8:38-39). In fact, he was sure of this. And so can we because the Word says that God is love (1 John 4:8), and He is ever-present (Joshua 1:9).

When we become followers of Jesus Christ, God lovingly draws us into a covenant relationship with Him. This covenant is everlasting. It is a sacred promise rooted in His eternal love for us.

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness, I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3 (NKJV)

When God draws us into His covenant of love, we can be assured that His hand of protection and provision is over us. His hand of grace and mercy. We can, as George Mathis did, rest our weary souls in Him, knowing He will never leave us nor abandon us. No matter where we find ourselves, we can be sure of this: He will never let us go.

"There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." Corrie ten Boom

Reflection:

Reflect on God’s eternal and ever-present love for you.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for Your eternal love that will never let me go. I give my feelings of abandonment and my loneliness to You. Help me to have that deep understanding that nothing can separate me from Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.