The Lutheran Hour
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"Nothing"
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Text: Romans 8:38-39
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! In a world of darkness, these resurrection words are light. A risen Redeemer moves all who believe in Him from darkness of sin, death, and devil into a light which nothing can extinguish. God grant this living light of Divine grace belong to us all. Amen.
In early 1946, the movie comedian W.C. Fields was dying. Leaving his rented mansion, Fields was admitted to Los Encinas Sanitarium where he had a private bungalow. It was there, his friends from better and healthier times came to visit. One of those friends reported he was shocked to find Fields in bed with a Bible. Since the funny man was known to have been an avid agnostic for most of his life, the friend felt he simply had to inquire: “Bill, what are you doing reading the Bible?” The comedian’s reply was both poignant and pitiable. He said, “I’m looking for loopholes.” There is no indication he was trying to be humorous.
Loopholes. All of us believe in loopholes. We hold that although the world is filled with rules, every one of those rules has a loophole, an exception, which can be found if a person looks long enough and hard enough. Tell a tiny tot not to run through the house and he will begin to skip. Amend the rule to, “Don’t run or skip in the house”, and he will, after a second’s pondering, begin to jump. Intuitively he has searched for, and found, a loophole.
All of us believe the laws of life have their loopholes, their exceptions and exemptions. Because that is so countries, companies, and even individuals find they must employ a gaggle of lawyers whose prime purpose is to open up or close up the loopholes. I remember hearing about one barrister who, in the 1880s, was taking a railroad trip across Pennsylvania. Coming across a pastoral field filled with sheep, the fellow sitting opposite the lawyer said, “Nice group of woolies. Looks to me like they’ve recently been shorn.” The lawyer, whose life revolved around spotting and plugging up any loophole took a glimpse and said, “Yup, they’ve been shorn, at least on this side.”
Now I have to confess, reading legalese, loophole-plugging lawyer language, is about as boring as anything in this life can possibly be. Even so, there is one lawyer who showed a thoroughness of thought that I most definitely appreciate. The lawyer’s name is Paul and although he didn’t graduate from Harvard, he had been taught by Gamaliel, one of the wisest and most respected of Jewish rabbis. Originally an opponent of Jesus Christ, Paul spent some time being the front man for the persecution which tried to halt the new faith in the risen Christ Who had, according to ancient prophecy, risen from the dead. That Paul rejected this new religion of grace is undeniable. He had been there at the stoning of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, and he received an open warrant to root out the Christian heresy in cities as far away from Jerusalem as Damascus.
As he traveled to that city, fired with the idea of preserving intact the ancient codes and faith he had studied for so long, Paul was confronted by the very Person Whose faith and followers he was trying to destroy. In a blinding vision Paul came face-to-face with the profound reality: the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not manufactured or made up; the living Lord was not a myth Who had sprung from the minds of some deluded, uneducated Galilean fishermen. Having seen, having heard Jesus speak to him, Paul could no longer deny or disavow, renounce or reject the reality: Christ had risen!
No doubt, after the initial shock wore off, Paul’s legal mind started to evaluate the facts. He would have examined the evidence from every which way and ultimately he was forced to conclude: there were no loopholes in this truth: Jesus Christ Who had suffered under Pontius Pilate, Who had been crucified by an efficient squad of Roman soldiers had, according to God’s plan, risen from the dead. The rest of Paul’s life would be spent sharing the Savior’s story of salvation with sinners; the remainder of his days would be dedicated to using his brilliant legal mind in answering the questions, stilling in others the heartfelt doubts and the mental misgivings that he once had had himself.
Now I would not be telling the entire truth if I were to say that every word Paul said or wrote was easy to understand. There are times when his lawyerish language can become downright ponderous and cumbersome. But for me there is one very special time, when his witness to the resurrection and the uncompromising power of God’s love is incredibly comforting. Allow me to read those words to you. To the church at Rome, and to Christians in every century and on every continent, Paul wrote:
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36…37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor 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.
If the wondrous words of the angel, “Christ is risen” turned the world and our eternal destinies upside down, then these Holy Spirit-inspired words by Paul give practical application to all who have been given faith in the risen Redeemer. Consider how Paul lets the worried and the wounded, the troubled and the terrified, the discouraged and the depressed know that no matter how hard and harsh may be their situation, no matter how taxing and troublesome may be their lives, the Triune God is in control. Paul says there is no sin which is impervious to the blood of Jesus and no path so treacherous that cannot be navigated when each step is taken in the company of the Christ. But there is more to what Paul says here. He lets us know, NOTHING can separate believers from the love of God which becomes theirs through faith in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Of course, hearing those all-inclusive words, we assume that there must be an exception, a loophole. Practical experience has taught us that human relationships are not always long lasting. When Elizabeth Barrett became the wife of Robert Browning, her parents separated themselves from her because her choice of a husband had displeased them. Elizabeth was convinced that if she was patient enough the separation could be healed. Moved by that goal, almost every week for ten years she wrote to them. In her letters she spoke of her love and a hoped for reunion. Then, after ten years of writing she received a huge box in the mail. The box held all the letters she had so loving composed. Not one had been opened, not one of her pleadings had been heard. What might have happened if her mother and father had read just one of those epistles cannot be said. The separation never ended, the reconciliation never came.
How different it is with God. His desire to have His children reconciled to Him was shown in His supreme sacrifice wherein He sent His Son into this world to seek and save the lost. No matter Jesus was unwanted by the people He had come to rescue; no matter they felt a Redeemer was unneeded, Jesus Christ was born of a virgin so that He might unilaterally rescue us from sin, death, devil, and ourselves. His life was spent in rejection and refusal; His words were misunderstood and misapplied, His work unappreciated and unapplauded.
Even so, Jesus did not veer from the path which would take Him to the time of foul betrayal and unjust trials. But not once did He open His mouth in His own defense; not once did He lash back at those who treated Him so cruelly. Instead He allowed Himself to be taken to His destiny on Calvary’s cruel cross. There, as He endured the taunts of those who hated Him, God’s Son died. With His perfect life having kept the Commandments we have broken; with His perfect dedication having resisted the temptation to which we have succumbed, Jesus rightly, victoriously said, “It is finished.”
His third-day resurrection from the grave showed that the last of humankind’s enemies,
death itself, had been defeated.These were the facts that Paul proclaimed when he said, ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God which comes to us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Now, if you would, stop for a moment and consider the word nothing. If your life’s partner turns to you and condescendingly says, “I feel nothing for you anymore”, that is a terrible thing. When your bank calls you and says, “There is nothing left in your account”, that is a catastrophic thing. When the physician says “Your situation is hopeless, there is nothing medicine can do to help you”, it is a frightening thing. But when Paul says, “There is nothing which can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus”, that is different. Completely, totally different. When a Christian hears ‘nothing can separate him from God’s love’, a brilliant light of hope and happiness and heaven is ignited in his heart. More importantly, because the Son has given His life and the Father has given His word, we know that light cannot be extinguished.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is ours in Christ Jesus. Now you who are listening to this broadcast are not fools. Some of you may already have been thinking to yourself, “This sounds just too good to be true.” Others may be saying, “This is one of those absolutes … there must be an exception, a loophole God has left Himself.” If that is what you are thinking, I understand. From your early years you have tried never to be taken in by false claims and patently unrealistic promises. You had just started kindergarten when you discovered the things toys do on commercials, they don’t do at home. The passing years have taught you that the right toothpaste doesn’t guarantee true love; the proper coffee won’t stop the breakup of a marriage. You know that soaps don’t get things whiter than white and the break you need today can’t be found with a bunch of fries and a greasy burger from a drive-thru fast-food jOint.
You’ve trained your eye to watch for the fine print flashed for a millisecond at the bottom of the commercial; you’ve forced your ears to listen to all the crippling, killing possible side-effects which seem to be connected with all the newest miracle drugs. You’ve watched those eternally sharp kitchen knives cut through cans, concrete blocks, tanks, and the Hoover Dam. You wouldn’t be surprised to see a commercial where someone is trapped in a wrecked car and freed by someone who just happens to have his super¬knife handy. Yes, you have to look at such grandiose and extravagant claims with a discerning eye.
St. Paul knew that’s probably the way you would approach him when he says: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Paul wants you to know there is NO sin too dark, NO SOUl-stain too ground in, NO grievous spiritual wound so fresh that the blood of Jesus Christ cannot erase it. To allay your doubts, Paul prepared a lawyer’s laundry list of things which could easily cause your faith difficulty. He begins talking about death and notes: when the doctor is helpless and the medicines are ineffective, the coming of death will not separate us from God’s love. Indeed, death can only draw a believer closer to his Redeemer.
But for some people, life, not death, is the ultimate enemy. Years ago I overheard a conversation between two ladies. One had been broken by a great tragedy and had lived under the crushing weight of that burden for so long praise and prayer had been pushed aside by a continuous complaining. Feeling herself at the end of her rope, she sadly said, “I wish I had never been made.” The response of her comrade was simple. She said, “Why, my dear, dear friend, you are not made yet, you are only being made, and you are quarreling with the way God is doing it.” To such people God promises the worst that life has to offer will not separate them from His love.
And suppose you have no fear of death or life, how about the unseen forces of darkness which are all around? How about angels, demons, and powers? Down deep inside of us we have a feeling, a knowledge, that these things are very real. Even as he acknowledges the existence of such forces, Paul brushes them aside. Even Satan with his multitudes and minions cannot drive a wedge between a Christian and His loving
God.Is it possible that time is the enemy which causes you fear? Is it the ticking of the clock, the passing of the years, or the remembrance of a sin committed long ago? These things should not cause you worry. The eternal God Who transcends all time, has forgiven these sins and promises a place for His children where they will no longer be torn and worn by the ravages of the clock.
Maybe it is the dark and unknown future which causes you care? Are you frightened by the specter of future failure, future poverty, future shortcomings, future loneliness, future heartbreak, what might happen, what could happen? If these are the thoughts which occupy your mind and heart, St. Paul says, ‘no matter what the future holds; no matter if your tomorrows are many or few, nothing can separate you from the love of God which comes through Jesus. Paul continues. He says if you were to go to the highest mountain; if you were to travel to the farthest reaches of space, God and His love would already be there. If you were to descend into the deepest depths of the ocean or the darkest, dampest mine, God would be waiting there to offer His love.
Amazingly, even after all this Paul’s lawyer’s list was still not complete. He had one more item to add. If anyone had managed to discover a loophole he might have missed, Paul says, “Nothing else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God.” That’s his way of saying, “You know, even though I’ve tried to cover my bases, I may not have thought of your personal pain or problem, your unique fear or terror. If that’s the case, I want you to know: nothing you can think of can separate you from God’s love.”
Paul should know. He was speaking from experience. You see, his life could hardly have been called idyllic or charmed. Shipwreck and stoning, beating and betrayal, jail and …
Paul’s list of woes is long. But as he gazed upon his litany, he rejoiced in the Lord Who had always been with him. Paul had learned, even in difficult circumstances, he could be content when the Lord was by His side. Did I say ‘content?’ Paul was more than content. He had the love of God which came through Jesus.I would be remiss if I did not say that same Divine presence and comfort can be yours. The impersonality of radio does not allow me to guess what circumstances or difficulties beset you this Lord’s Day. I cannot guess what specialized tool Satan has decided to use upon you. He has developed many. There is hatred, sadness, jealousy, loss, sickness, financial difficulties. I don’t know his selection for you, but I am sure his selection will prove ineffectual if you place your trust in the love of God which is yours in Jesus Christ.
Years ago there was a man whose early years had been spent in the pursuit of evil. Eventually, he was turned to the Savior. Shortly after his conversion, he met an old pal from his pre-religion days who cursed him for having turned religious. The Christian replied, “You know I’m the lamplighter. In the morning, when I have to extinguish those lamps and I turn around and look at where I’ve been, it’s dark. That’s the way my past seems. Dark. Then I turn around and look forward. There’s light there to guide me. That’s the way I feel about my future in Jesus.” Now his old friend wasn’t about to let that go without a comment. He said, “Sure, but eventually you will get to the last lamp and it will be put out and where will you be then? You’ll be in the dark” “Oh”, said the lamplighter. “That’s easy. It won’t be dark. When the last lamp goes out, it’s dawn, and there ain’t no need for lamps when the morning comes.”
My friends, if we can help you through the darkness into the light, please; if we can help you appreciate what Paul says, please, we extend this invitation: Call us at the Lutheran
Hour. Amen.LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers)
January 9,2011
Topic: Cuss in’Announcer: How to break a bad habit? Hi, I’m Mark Eischer, here once again with our Speaker Emeritus, Pastor Ken Klaus.
Klaus: Thank you, Mark. And how have you been doing with your New Year’s resolutions?
Announcer: Well, that’s not really a custom of mine. But, how about you? Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?
Klaus: Indeed, I’ve made more than a few of them for this year. Made many and already
broken most.Announcer: Wow, nine days in.
Klaus: That’s the way it seems to go for me. You know the best-laid plans of mice and retired Lutheran Hour Speakers often go agley.
Announcer: Speaking of which–and please don’t take this the wrong way–but people are probably wondering why you’re even still here. We had said you were going to retire.
Klaus: Technically, I have. But there are a lot of transition things to work out in preparation for the new speaker, so I’ve been asked to stay on for a bit.
Announcer: Very good. We’ll leave it at that for right now. Pastor, we have a question about resolutions .. .from someone who wants to make one and keep it.
Klaus: Let’s hear it.
Announcer: I’m going to share the letter as it was written. It begins: “First, let me say thanks for y’alls’ great segment on the radio on Sunday mornings.”
Klaus: Nice regional flavor, there.
Announcer: And, our listener continues: “Y’all may not know it, but I believe that it helps a lot of people learn and understand about God, religion, and problems that they have in life. A lot of people don’t feel comfortable in church with a lot of people around and nobody to trust. I know this ’cause I am one of them. I think it’s great for you to take the time to care about people and help them find their way. Again, great show and keep up the good work.”
Klaus: Mark, I think we ought to stop there for a moment. We probably won’t get another chance like this all year. Somebody who says something nice and what’s more, understands why we do what we do. It doesn’t get any better than that. Announcer: And, we thank our listener.
Klaus: So, what is our question?
Announcer: Our listener writes, “I’m having a hard time repenting of my sins. For the most part, I’m pretty nice to people and get along with everyone. But like a lot of my family members, I have a bad temper and cuss frequently. Mostly in private or around people that do the same. But even though most people can’t hear me, I know God can–and I’m sure He doesn’t approve. I’ve tried to slack off, but then I get angry again and we’re back to the same matter. I guess being around it so much (around these cuss words) they have just sort of rubbed off on me like ordinary words. I’m not offended by them, but I know it’s not my opinion that count, but God’s.”
Klaus: Again, what a magnificent letter. Let me explain the wonderful things that are happening here. First, he knows he ought not to be swearing. Using God’s Name in vain is a pretty serious sin. God keeps it at #2 on His list of 10 Commandments.
People today don’t pay much attention to swearing, but this fellow does. Further, he knows that swearing is a habit. When you first start using such language, it bothers the conscience mightily. But as things go on and you do it more and more, your conscience slowly shuts down. But this fellow, brilliant thinker and man of faith, knows that it’s not his conscience’s opinion that counts, it is God’s opinion and God isn’t pleased. Lastly, this fellow is in a battle.
His friends, his environment, and let’s not forget, the devil-they’re all pulling him one way and the Holy Spirit is pulling him the other way.Announcer: And in this case, who would you say is going to win?
Klaus: I’ve never claimed to have the gift of prophecy. On the other hand, God is saying in all honesty it seems this fellow is headed in the right direction.
Announcer: Well, what is there that we can do today that might help?Klaus: He can realize that when he slips back into using foul language, there is forgiveness in Christ… and he can start afresh. It’s not so much a New Year’s Resolution as for him; it will probably be a daily or a minute-by-minute resolution. The language he uses is not his master. He can, by the Holy Spirit’s power, learn to curb his tongue.
Announcer: And what about that part about losing his temper?
Klaus: That’s another matter, but the Lord can fix that sort of thing, too. The change begins with prayer, patience, and being moved from what you were to what the Holy Spirit wants you, has gifted you, to be. Above all, don’t despair, trust in God’s power to forgive and keep trying to use your words to glorify the Savior, Who died and rose for our salvation.
Announcer: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music selection for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” arr. Donald Busarow. From Hymns for All Saints: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany (© 2005 Concordia Publishing House)
“O Word of God Incarnate” arr. Charles Callahan. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” by J.S. Bach. From The Wind of Heaven by K. Lee Scott (© 1991 K. Lee Scott-VQR Digital)