The Separation Process

UV 1667/10000 The Separation Process

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword
Romans 8 v 35
In Physics and Chemistry, there are different methods of separating a substance from other impure materials like heating and evaporation, distillation, smelting of ores, filtering and so on. Similarly, there are many methods of separation and refinement in matters of faith and the spirit. The Lord sits as a refiner of metals before a furnace to separate His people unto Him. Just as light was separated by God from darkness of the universe at the beginning, just as land was separated from water at the beginning, we have been separated by the Lord from the world and its ways. We have been united or grafted to Him by the love of Christ. Now, neither tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, threats, violence can separate us from the agape love of God in Christ Jesus. The enemy of our souls does make attempts continually but the Lord covers us with His wings as a hen covers its chicken. The presence of such threats and risks make us walk closer to the Lord and to lean on Him at all times.

The love of Christ is an all encompassing shield surrounding us in 360 degrees. He preserves us from our persecutors, from crisis, from natural disasters and man-made ones, from poverty, dangers, slander, scandals, physical risks and violence. Neither shall death, nor fallen angels or princes and powers of darkness, anything in our present, past or future. Neither the heights of success, fame or position or the depths of failure and misery can distance us from the grace and love of the Lord. He is closer to us than our own skin. We should stick to Him like a leech.

Why does the Lord allow us to go through the path of fiery trials and tribulation? He has gone through the same path and had overcome. We too, shall overcome. The path to the kingdom of God is through tribulations. It will develop patience or a certain depth of faith and character in us. As we undergo these troubles in this world, we should stand out by our purity, kindness, ability to endure, integrity, patience, firmness, gentleness, by our unfeigned love, by our peace and joy in difficult circumstances, by our knowledge of the power of God and our confidence in the word. Our tribulations work out to the glory of God as it demonstrates the power of God. It proves our commitment and the extent of our faith. It further prunes and perfects us.

Prateep V Philip