If God be for us, who can be against us?

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?—Romans 8:31

Concerning this passage, Adam Clark in his commentary on Romans proposes the question, “What cunning, strength, or malice can prevail against his wisdom, power, and goodness?” Of course the answer to that question is, none. Foes may beset us, many kinds of afflictions may strike our human frame, conditions will come upon us that will cause us to groan, and grow weary and sometimes a feeling of loneliness will sweep down over our troubled souls making it seem as if the load is too heavy to bear. What shall we  say to all this: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:28).  We have the privilege of going boldly before the throne of grace seeking mercy and finding grace to sustain us on this pilgrimage (Heb. 4:16). The words of Philippians 4:6-7 bring to us great comfort as we fight the battles of life: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace that passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. In his arms we are safe. He is the source of our strength and in him we will not fail:

                           “Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast,

                           There by His love o’ershaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest.”

As we make our way down the pathway of life, we must ever keep our eyes glued on the goal that is set before us (Col. 3:1-2, Phil. 3:13-14). Anything or anyone that has a tendency to slow us down, interfere or stop our movement forward must be cast aside (Heb. 12:1-2). The reward of doing so is a house not made with human hands, one that is eternal in the heavens (2 Cor. 5:1-8).

Peter tells us that the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are opened unto their prayers (1 Peter 3:12). We have a watchman over us who never slumbers or sleeps (Psalms 121:4). Just knowing that the eyes of the Lord are in every place (Proverbs 15:3) and nothing is hid from him (Heb. 4:13) should be a source of great encouragement to all of us when our way on this earth becomes dreary and weary. Aren’t you glad that there is an all seeing eye watching over us? I love to sing “All along on the road to the soul’s true abode, There’s an Eye watching you; Every step you take this great Eye is awake”.

The great truth in all of this still remains that so long as God is with us, so long as we walk hand in hand with him, there is absolutely nothing on the face of this earth that can prevail against us (Rom. 8:35-39).

Charles Hicks