“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man – though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 5:1-9)
Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite Scripture might be I always, and I mean always tell them Romans 5:1-9. It’s always the one that quiets my soul when darkness is around. There was a time when everything seemed to be hitting all at once, won’t go into detail but I’m sure we’ve all had those times. My husband had decided to take us away from all the troubles for a few days to our favorite place, the Oregon Coast. One day as I was sitting on the balcony overlooking the shoreline, I had my Bible in my lap and I was just thumbing through it and as I was about to close it, the Spirit led me to Romans 5. Once I read what I felt I was being led to read a deep feeling of peace came over me instantly and I realized that at that moment that Christ was with me and that He would guide me through the storms we were facing. And yes, the storms subsided and we survived the turmoil.
We are all sinners, no matter how hard we try, and I’m the first one to admit it, I will stumble, might say, think or do things that I know He would shake His head at if He were standing in front of me, however, because we are all so far from being perfect, it’s reassuring that Jesus is there to help refine us and stand before His Father as our great Advocate in order for us to avoid the holy wrath of God.
In a world that is filled with so much turmoil, hatred, unforgiveness, anti-God behaviors, it’s hard for anyone to think that there is any hope whatsoever. That’s why this particular Scripture is so important as it is. It’s blunt by it’s exposing who we truly by nature being told that even though often we’re ungodly and even though we were still sinners, Jesus Christ loved us enough to die for us. At the same time it fills us with hope that no matter how far we might stumble and fall He can bring us back into God’s family.
This is why it’s so important that our focus remains on Jesus, we must continue to put our full faith and hope in Him in order to enter the Kingdom. After all, that’s why He said “No one gets to the Father except through Me.” Too many people miss the mark there. They often forget that truth and never truly have a personal one on one relationship with Jesus, Himself. Those who become hopeless have let go of Him because they’ve forgotten that they can get through any storm and come out stronger as long as they hold onto Him.
I was once told by a priest friend that He never promised us life would be easy otherwise if life on earth was easy, why would we ever want to see heaven? However, He does promise us that He will be with us through all the storms of our lives. And He never breaks His promises, you just have to hold onto that truth but the hope that’s found in Jesus Christ never disappoints.
So, whenever the world is getting you down and you feel as if the darkness is swallowing you up, turn to Romans 5:1-9 and let that hope be renewed in the knowledge that no matter what, He died for you so that you might have life!
No Thought Police 