Do you know what skunks, bees, ground hogs,
snakes, bats, and bears (grizzly and black) all have in common? During the cold
winter months, they become dormant (torpid), and hibernate. All of the above
creatures enter a deep sleep where breathing slows down, and they are insensitive
to the power of emotion and movement. Sometime in spring they all arise from
their wintery grave to have their life renewed once again.
I think the above is a fitting example of
Romans 8:18-25 (ERV) below. These verses are best summarized with this single
alliterative statement (that we will dissect later for better understanding):
“While in frustration, we live in expectation with creation for our liberation
and transformation.”
“We have sufferings
now, but these are nothing compared to the great glory that will be given to
us. Everything
that God made is waiting with excitement for the time when he will show the
world who his children are. The whole world wants very much for that to happen. Everything
God made was allowed to become like something that cannot fulfill its purpose.
That was not its choice, but God made it happen with this hope in view:
that the creation would be made free from ruin—that everything God made would
have the same freedom and glory that belong to God’s children.
We know that
everything God made has been waiting until now in pain like a woman ready to
give birth to a child. Not
only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the
Spirit as the first part of God’s promise. So we are waiting for God to finish
making us his own children. I mean we are waiting for our bodies to be made
free.
We were saved to have this hope. If we can see what we are waiting for, that is
not really hope. People don’t hope for something they already have. But
we are hoping for something we don’t have yet, and we are waiting for it
patiently.”
While in frustration… Our world is in a mess with all the suffering, conflict, frustration, sin,
and death that are inflicted on the plant life, mankind (and the animal kingdom
alike).
“God uses chronic pain and weakness,
along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness
deepens dependency on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the
harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually; even
while our bodies waste away…
Your cross is your attitude about your
dead-end job and your in-laws. It is your attitude about your aches and pains.
Any complaints, any grumblings, any disputing or murmurings, any anxieties, any
worries, any resentments or anything that hints of a raging torrent of
bitterness--these are the things God calls me to die to daily.”**
…we live in expectation with creation… In the months leading up to the birth of our only child, my wife
wasn’t always comfortable for a variety of reasons in her own body as a larger
woman. (If you are a mother, I’m sure you know them all.)
On Allena’s arrival into our parental world,
she was delivered early of the expected delivery date via Caesarian section
(due to toxemia). Whatever pain, Bobbi may have experienced during the process
of pregnancy (and delivery) was a distant memory once the reward of our
daughter was placed in her arms.
Humans have not always been the best stewards
of this world. “This sin-stained planet
would have ripped apart at the seams long ago were it not for the restraining
hand of God.”** Like a couple waiting
the birth of a child, all of the Almighty’s creation anxiously awaits a change
(another chance) for something better.
…for our liberation and transformation. At last, those chains that have kept us tethered for so long to all the difficulties on the Earth are gone. Martin Luther King, Jr. expressed how we will all feel when we arrive in Heaven (see Out of this World). “Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.”
I believe one day we’ll dance in pure joy at
how alive, content, and complete we feel in the presence of our Heavenly
Father. Nothing else (from our former life) will matter in our new home.
Today, the thought of that is more than our earthly
minds can comprehend. What follows are great quotes about hope and our
celestial home. In the future, we know that something better is on the horizon.
1. “Frustration,
although quite painful at times, is a very positive and essential part of
success.” (Bo Bennett)
2. “Hope
fills the holes of my frustration in my heart.” (Emanuel Cleaver)
3. “Earth
has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.” (Thomas
Moore)
4. “How
sweet is rest after fatigue! How sweet will Heaven be when our journey is ended.”
(George Whitefield)
5. “Sometimes
God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves…My weakness that is, my
quadriplegia, is my greatest asset because it forces me into the arms of Christ
every single morning when I get up.” (Joni
Eareckson Tada)
*Inspired by the sermon “Because You Belong…Glory
Awaits You!” (Installment Four) Pastor Dave Jansen, August 7, 2016, CenterPoint
Church Gahanna, Gahanna, OH
No comments:
Post a Comment