How Far? How Long?

During a memorial service after the tragedy of September 11th 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush quoted these verses from the Bible.
"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ (!), who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.
Death can't (!), and life can't (!). The angels can't (!), and the demons can't (!). Our fears for today, and our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from *the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35,37-39 NKJV.

I believe it took a leader to say those words. A man of God to stand before his country, his administration, his fellow countrymen, aliens, critics and even his enemies, to proclaim, to declare aloud in those moments of extreme grief and anguish that God is still in control. That nothing, absolutely nothing can separate God's love from those who believe in Him. At the deep end of loss, a leader of his nation steered his nation towards faith, rest and comfort in God. Above answers, defense and trauma, people needed hope. And a man of God declared the source of Hope.

(*"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." John 3:16-17 The Message.)

A disciple of Jesus found himself on the hilltop of regret. Having betrayed his master to his enemies for thirty pieces of silver, Judas was too laden with remorse and self-condemnation to give himself another chance. As a result, he sought the way out to silence his pain. He found a rope and hung himself from a tree. Because he couldn't forgive himself, he never had a chance to receive forgiveness from the One who loved him. I often wonder what it would have been like if Judas had asked Jesus for forgiveness. Perhaps his life would have been radically changed. Perhaps he would have lived to tell of the God of second chances.

Everyone fails at one point or another. I, for one, can use second chances. To learn to forgive myself of my mistakes. To accept that I am not perfect, yet know that I have hope in Jesus. I would appreciate and feel encouraged if those closest to my heart can paint a new picture of me with me. With new paint and new brushstrokes. Humanly, it's hard work. But in Christ, all things are possible. There is no life apart from Christ, and there is no hope without Christ! Just ask Simon Peter. He denied Jesus on three separate occasions yet Jesus returned to restore him when He came back to life having overcome death.

Keep walking,
Sv ",+

20/05/2008 08:37