Three Things that Groan. Romans 8.18-28
But those three things lead us to a place of great hope.
Things come in threes. Some say good things come in threes, others 'bad things come in threes'. Yesterday, today, tomorrow--tic-tac-toe--Father, Son, Holy Spirit; in baseball—three strikes, three bases, three outfielders, and so on. Again, I look to Paul’s observation that in our life, there are three things of which we ought be aware, things that groan.
From Romans chapter eight:
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ” v.18-22
Thing number one -
(1) Creation groans. Creation groans because, though it did not ask for it, when the first humans chose to rebel—chose to sin—and the sin condition entered the world, it did not just mean that men would physically die, but that all of creation would be corrupted as well. “Cursed is the ground because of you,” God said to Adam; while Adam sinned voluntarily, nature was involuntarily impacted. Hmmm . . . But in creation’s groaning, there is a sense of hope. Creation, as it were, is leaning forward, leaning inward, waiting for the day it will be perfected; and as in the pains of childbirth, it waits for precious delivery!
Paul continues,
“And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” v. 23-25
Thing number two:
(2) We believers groan. Followers of Jesus look forward expectantly to the day when ‘faith will be made sight’—when we shall see God face to face, and all of life’s woes will be behind us. Then, we shall no longer have to hope, because we will realize our full relationship as sons of the King.
Paul continues:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. v.26-27
Thing number three:
(3) The Holy Spirit groans for us as he individually prays for us—going to the Father on our behalf! Picture that for a moment, won’t you? The Holy Spirit is your advocate before an all-holy God. Especially when we are feeling weak and having a tough time on our own.
This reminds me of what John wrote: “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” 1 John 2.1
In this life, three entities groan . . Creation, believers, and the Holy Spirit. But one day, for Creation, for the believer in Jesus Christ, and together with the Holy Spirit, the groaning will be quieted in the presence of our Lord. Amen!
Be encouraged, Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uxFV9BOaAM
And again! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NueMKnU8qa0
For the love,
Christine
Comments