Thursday
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
(Romans 8:19-25, NIV)
The harmony of God’s creation was broken by the sin of Adam and Eve and, despite the judgment of the flood and God’s renewal of creation through Noah, evil again emerged because of humanity’s sin. The natural world that God originally intended to be interdependent in mutually beneficial ways is now distorted and twisted. In today’s verses, Paul graphically pictures the condition of our natural world because of the impact of sin.
In Paul’s words, God’s creation has been “subjected to frustration” because of its “bondage to decay” and literally groans in pain, as a woman in labor does as she awaits the birth of her child. While the principal point of Paul’s remarks in these verses concerns the future glory that awaits Christians who “hope for what we do not yet have,” the reference to the pain of our natural world because of humanity’s sin is important for us to understand.
Shalom with nature does not presently exist. The harmony of the Garden of Eden, a harmony God desires between humanity and humanity’s natural environment, is not present. But we should not be without hope! Despite the present lack of peace with nature, Paul reminds his readers that creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay. The physical universe, with its rich store of fish, birds, animals and plants, will not be annihilated by God nor will God allow humanity to destroy it completely. Creation, God promises, will be renewed. That is the glorious hope of God’s people.
Prayer
Almighty God, we praise you for your promise that all of creation will be restored and that the groaning and pain we see in our natural world will someday end. Help us to be people who live with “hope for what we do not yet have.” Amen.