How persuaded are you?

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present not things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39, NKJV

The word persuaded in this text comes from the Greek word peitho which means to be thoroughly convinced of something. In the Greek-speaking world it could be used to convince someone of something true or false, to convince someone to do something good or bad, or to convince someone that they were right or wrong. The usage of the word in the Greek language appears to have action involved as well. That is, to be so convinced of something that you act upon your belief.

This word in Romans 8:38 is also used interestingly in the grammar of the language. It is in the perfect tense. To put it simply, that means the word speaks of a past action, and that action has continuing results in the present and the future.

This brings us to some compelling thoughts:

1. Have we come to the point in our lives of faith that we are absolutely, altogether, completely convinced that nothing... that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God?
2. If so, do we live in such a way that the world can see that complete trust in the One who gave His life for us?
   

We are not told when the Apostle Paul came to that point of persuasion in his life. Perhaps it was on the Damascus Road, perhaps some other time; we are not told that information. However, his actions throughout his life of faith demonstrate that complete trust, that thorough persuasion:

• Whipped with 39 lashes on five separate occasions.
• Beaten with a rod on three occasions.
• Stoned once (but survived).
• Shipwrecked three times.
• In prison, danger, life-threatening situations, being hungry, cold, etc., many, many times.

Through all of these situations, the Apostle's attitude was based on his firm belief that nothing could separate him from his Lord: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (our bodies), that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us...always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:7, 10

Are you thoroughly persuaded?