8.1.13 — Eagerly Waiting From The Orphanage

Romans 8:18-25
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

“Cursed is the ground for your sake, Adam.” (Genesis 3:17a)

Can you imagine the entire creation groaning when it heard those words many many years ago? The animals, planets, land, and vegetation all hunch over at the proclamation from God that they would be subjected to live and grow under a world of lies. When man fell into the state of sin, we pulled with us all of creation into the train of bondage which leads to the land of destruction.

Then, Christ the light of the world comes to live and die as a deliverer for all of creation. One who would pay the ransom to the driver of the train. The ransom cost Jesus his life, yet he adopted the creation and his chosen sheep for his Father in heaven.

Do you find that you groan within yourself because of the world of sin which lives both internal and external from you? Ourselves and the creation sit in an orphanage with eyes of faith upon Jesus, the one who will come and finally adopt us out of the land of sin. Can you picture the eager faces of children of Haiti as prospective parents come to the orphanage to choose a child for themselves. This is how we are to wait for the redemption of our bodies. This is hope, and we are to wait eagerly with patience.