Upside Down Kingdom - Pt 3

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 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. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 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. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV).

One summer night as Mary and I were finishing our drive through Cade’s Cove in the Smoky Mountains, I saw the sunset pictured below. I paused to take the picture and was reminded again that even as magnificent nature is today, it too is longing for redemption. All of creation has suffered under our sin. However, we can see in the third principle revealed in our reading today that our weakness serves to remind us that while we deserve wrath, we have received grace. All of creation, ourselves included, suffers corruption, pain, and weakness because of the sin of our first parents. And each of us individually has earned the just wrath of God for our own multitude of sins (cf. Romans 3:23), let alone a little suffering in this life. We don’t deserve a weight of glory (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17), but a weight of wrath. Yet this world and our lives abound with so many good gifts from God. And we Christians have the best gift, Christ, who is our life and our eternal treasure. We have been spared God’s righteous wrath, redeemed, forgiven by God, reconciled to him, justified, adopted into his family. What mercy! This reminder bears the fruit of sympathy and kindness. In our weakness we may be reminded of God’s tender mercy and forbearance toward us. We are assisted by the Spirit to better embody Ephesians 4:32-5:2: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” While this principle is counter-intuitive, it is a basic part of the fabric of God’s design. As we have received mercy and grace we are strengthened to persevere and give that mercy and grace to others.