City Life Starter

I. The Word: Romans 8:18-25

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 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. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

II. Reflection Questions:

1. What trials have you experienced that you are now thankful for?
2. Is your mind set on eternal things or merely current/worldly things?
3. How can you personally set your mind on Christ as your hope today?

We’ve all been there before. You know, where you look back after a hard season in life and reflect on all you’ve been through. Typically we are glad to have some distance from the suffering we experienced, but after a while we come to appreciate the whole experience, pain and all. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

The Apostle Paul begins this section in Romans 8 verse 18 by helping us see how he deals with pain and suffering. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” What sufferings is he talking about? Well, we get a tiny glimpse out of his writing to the Corinthians church in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29.

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

The man went through great suffering and his attitude was that it is all worth it when you have an eternal perspective on life. As long as this life’s success and ambition is what you are living for you will never suffer well through trials. However, when you think in light of eternity, this momentary light affliction is nothing compared to what is being produced and will be revealed to and in us. The pains of childbirth later reveal a beautiful child, the pains of study later reveal the pleasure of a degree and/or knowledge. Our present pains are crafting the glory and character of God and we will one day, on a much higher scale, see and reap the benefits.

Not only will we experience this glory, but Paul goes on to say even nature longs for this revealing. Nature was altered greatly when sin, like a virus, entered the world. Even it longs and groans for full redemption. We have discussed previously the four words to sum up all of the story of God: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. We live in the time between the times. We are in the redemption phase of life, eagerly longing for complete and full restoration. God will one day completely restore all of creation, not only back to it’s original state, but into a whole new, fuller, state. And not only creation, but we, ourselves will inherit a new body that will not be weak and so easily coerced by sin and pain.

When I was young this didn’t sound so attractive, but as I grow older, a new body isn’t such a bad idea. This is just one of the many things Paul says we long for in the time between redemption and restoration, but take courage, because God is preparing us for that time, even in our weaknesses and trials.

Paul ends this section with a profound statement: 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Who hopes for what he sees? We hope for what we do not see and therefore patiently wait. Delayed gratification is an art we could redeem in our day and age where everything is instantaneous. Our hope for the unseen leads us to seek and see our unseen God. As we do this we come to find that we truly do see Him working and moving all around us.