ALL CREATION IS GROANING
Romans 8:18-30 ESV
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have been the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do no know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those He justified He also glorified.”
This passage talks about the participation of Christians in the everyday suffering experienced by all of creation. And why do we have suffering, sorrow, illness, and ultimately death in this life? Why does God allow this to happen to His children? Verse 20 tells us that, “for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope.” In other words, because of the fall of man – the shift of the first man and woman from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience – all of God’s creation was exposed to a curse. As a result of that curse, all creation now groans. I was 15 when I accepted Christ as Savior and one of the first books I was told to read was Romans. I love this book, but the first few times I read it my reaction to a lot of what I was reading was, “What?”
When I read about “suffering” at that time, my only experience with anything that even came close to suffering was missing a meal! Now don’t laugh, for me, when I was 15, missing a meal was a really big deal! Reading about all of creation suffering was beyond my understanding at that time. And to think that all of creation, not just humans, were waiting to “be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves…” As I have aged (boy, have I aged), suffering has taken on a deeper meaning. The loss of friends, parents, brother, sister, and Pam has redefined “suffering” for me. Now, I understand why all of God’s creation suffers! This world is just not what it is supposed to be, what it was created to be, and it is because of sin and the fall of man!
Paul closes this passage with, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the first born among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those He justified He also glorified.” God knew beforehand which sinners would believe. And on the basis of this knowledge, He predestined them unto salvation.
I am a big proponent of the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid). I am not sure how well I have practiced that principle here. Have a great Easter season! See you in church!
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have been the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do no know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those He justified He also glorified.”
This passage talks about the participation of Christians in the everyday suffering experienced by all of creation. And why do we have suffering, sorrow, illness, and ultimately death in this life? Why does God allow this to happen to His children? Verse 20 tells us that, “for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope.” In other words, because of the fall of man – the shift of the first man and woman from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience – all of God’s creation was exposed to a curse. As a result of that curse, all creation now groans. I was 15 when I accepted Christ as Savior and one of the first books I was told to read was Romans. I love this book, but the first few times I read it my reaction to a lot of what I was reading was, “What?”
When I read about “suffering” at that time, my only experience with anything that even came close to suffering was missing a meal! Now don’t laugh, for me, when I was 15, missing a meal was a really big deal! Reading about all of creation suffering was beyond my understanding at that time. And to think that all of creation, not just humans, were waiting to “be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves…” As I have aged (boy, have I aged), suffering has taken on a deeper meaning. The loss of friends, parents, brother, sister, and Pam has redefined “suffering” for me. Now, I understand why all of God’s creation suffers! This world is just not what it is supposed to be, what it was created to be, and it is because of sin and the fall of man!
Paul closes this passage with, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the first born among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those He justified He also glorified.” God knew beforehand which sinners would believe. And on the basis of this knowledge, He predestined them unto salvation.
I am a big proponent of the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid). I am not sure how well I have practiced that principle here. Have a great Easter season! See you in church!
by Paul Kightlinger, Elder
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