Pentecost 11                               Romans 8:26-35                                         7/27/08
                                                     “Love Song”

I’d like you to imagine the sound of a string orchestra complete with a row of harps, and a white sandy beach with waves gently lapping,  viewed through an open window whose curtains billow in a cool breeze.

Where do I begin
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love He (she) brings to me
Where do I start

With His (her) first hello
He (She) gave a meaning to this empty world of mine
There'd  never be another love, another time
He (She) came into my life and made the living fine
He (She) fills my heart

He (She) fills my heart with her special things
With angel songs, with wild imaginings
He (She) fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go, I'm never lonely
With His (her) along who could be lonely
I reach for His (her) hand, it's always there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need Him (her) till the stars all burn away
And He’ll (she'll) be there

Those are the words (slightly modified) to the theme song of the 1970 hit movie, Love Story.  This song could have appeared at the end of Romans 8 too.

Paul, having told of the utter hopelessness of sin, his gratitude to Christ for dying for him, his wonder at the working of the Spirit in giving humanity true freedom and the tremendous gift of being made adopted children of God, now sings the greatest love song ever composed.

He leads into the song by telling of still more gifts that come from God to His children.  He reminds us that even if we are too overwhelmed with suffering, even if our faith is too weak to grasp hold of prayer, the Spirit links us to God.  The Spirit lifts our needs, our longings, our aspirations to God.  Could anyone imagine a greater love than one that enfolds us like this?

Paul goes on to give us the assurance that there is meaning even in our worst suffering, because everything fits into the divine plan.  It’s all a part of salvation history.  It’s all fits together for the greater good.  And in the end, we are reminded, believers will see how what they went through was a part of all this.

Now, there are two things I think need to be pointed out.  First and foremost, we need to understand that God did not and does not plan evil.  He is not the author of our suffering.  Suffering is the result of sin - coming either because we live in a sinful world or because we ourselves sin and thus bring suffering on ourselves.

God allows suffering because to do otherwise would require that He intervene in people’s lives and thus take some of their freedom from them.  And one of the hallmarks of God’s creation of humanity was that He gave us free will.  It was given for good purpose which was corrupted by the fall, but we continue to have it because it is part of what makes us human.

The second thing to remember is that Scriptures were written for people of a very different mindset than is popular today.  People of ancient times did not think in terms of the individual.  What mattered was the group, community, family, congregation. 

Thus, they could take much more comfort in knowing they were part of a larger story than modern people, consumed with the importance of individuality and self can.  This does not change the value of what Paul is saying though.  Rather it helps us better appreciate the grandeur of the song he now sings.

As he writes, What then are we to say about these things - all these ways that God has shown His love for us, we can almost hear him singing, “Where do I begin...

The love of God when recognized and taken in helps us see that even if everyone, even if all the cosmic powers are against us, ready to condemn us, God will advocate for us.  And since He is also the judge, the acquittal is assured.

We are acquitted because His love for us - for all humanity - was so great that He gave His own Son for our sakes.  How could there be any greater love story?  This love from God initiates and inspires our love for God.

This love demonstrated in the sacrifice of the Son, also is our assurance that God will always love us.  He is not just a high-blown but sterile concept or some being totally removed from His human creatures; He is very personally and intimately involved.

And even though the Son has been raised from the dead and returned to heaven, He continues to care for us to such an extent that Paul declares that absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Thus the song concludes:

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need Him (her) till the stars all burn away
And He’ll (she'll) be there

But, even better, Paul’s love song concludes:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And to this we can say a heartfelt “Amen” - Yes, it will be so.