November 24, 2014 WAITING FOR OUR ADOPTION
Romans 8:18-19: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Things will not be the way they are now forever-and I’m glad for that. For the one who is not looking for “redemption”, it’s necessary to try to make everything as good as possible for the present, because after all, what else is there? For those who do not know God, it is a sad plight to live life with no hope for life after death. Also, the non-believer, because he believes that death is the end actually lives what could be called a “small” life as a result of a small or limited view of life. If one thinks his physical life is purely an accident or by chance, then there is no reason to have hope for the future. On the contrary, for those of us who are believers, we have hope for the future because we are now involved in the great purposes of God both in this life and the one to come. It is true that both unbelievers and believers have to deal with suffering in this world as Paul alludes to in the above verse. It is a huge difference in enduring suffering having no hope and having hope in the midst of suffering. As a child of God, our salvation is sure, but we are still waiting for, looking forward to our full adoption; even the redemption of our bodies and our being present with Him. The sufferings we deal with come in all shapes and sizes. Some sufferings are of our own making while other sufferings are beyond our control, but whatever the source, sufferings come our way. We, as Christians, are blessed to know that suffering has a purpose and that suffering is temporary. Even though we do not like suffering in any way, we have the power to embrace suffering knowing that if God allowed the suffering to come, He has a purpose for it and He can and will use it for good if we trust Him to do so. We have to remember that even though we have been born again and are children of God, we still live in a fallen world where sin, sickness, wars, etc. have not been totally eradicated as it will be in God’s timing. We do have power not to be defeated by the fallen aspect of the world in which we live and we are to be lights in this dark world. The day is coming when all that was lost in the fall of man will be restored and this is why we have hope. There is no power or authority, including Satan that can alter the plans of God. Even though sufferings exist, the gospel continues to change lives and it continues to expand and one day His kingdom will fill the whole earth. Just as Paul did, we at times “groan within ourselves” and we deep within long for our full redemption. Even the creation suffers as a result of sin entering the world, and even nature itself “waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God”. One day, the lion will again lie down with the lamb! We will see all of nature prosper-no disease, no droughts, no hurricanes, no pollution. How awesome it will be! What is in the future for the believer cannot be comprehended; but what we do know about it, it’s difficult to imagine how great it will be. Remember that suffering has a purpose even though we often don’t understand why the suffering comes; suffering should produce good fruit in us. As Christ suffered; we will also suffer. 1 Peter 1:3-6: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,….”
Blessings,
Buddy
Romans 8:18-19: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Things will not be the way they are now forever-and I’m glad for that. For the one who is not looking for “redemption”, it’s necessary to try to make everything as good as possible for the present, because after all, what else is there? For those who do not know God, it is a sad plight to live life with no hope for life after death. Also, the non-believer, because he believes that death is the end actually lives what could be called a “small” life as a result of a small or limited view of life. If one thinks his physical life is purely an accident or by chance, then there is no reason to have hope for the future. On the contrary, for those of us who are believers, we have hope for the future because we are now involved in the great purposes of God both in this life and the one to come. It is true that both unbelievers and believers have to deal with suffering in this world as Paul alludes to in the above verse. It is a huge difference in enduring suffering having no hope and having hope in the midst of suffering. As a child of God, our salvation is sure, but we are still waiting for, looking forward to our full adoption; even the redemption of our bodies and our being present with Him. The sufferings we deal with come in all shapes and sizes. Some sufferings are of our own making while other sufferings are beyond our control, but whatever the source, sufferings come our way. We, as Christians, are blessed to know that suffering has a purpose and that suffering is temporary. Even though we do not like suffering in any way, we have the power to embrace suffering knowing that if God allowed the suffering to come, He has a purpose for it and He can and will use it for good if we trust Him to do so. We have to remember that even though we have been born again and are children of God, we still live in a fallen world where sin, sickness, wars, etc. have not been totally eradicated as it will be in God’s timing. We do have power not to be defeated by the fallen aspect of the world in which we live and we are to be lights in this dark world. The day is coming when all that was lost in the fall of man will be restored and this is why we have hope. There is no power or authority, including Satan that can alter the plans of God. Even though sufferings exist, the gospel continues to change lives and it continues to expand and one day His kingdom will fill the whole earth. Just as Paul did, we at times “groan within ourselves” and we deep within long for our full redemption. Even the creation suffers as a result of sin entering the world, and even nature itself “waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God”. One day, the lion will again lie down with the lamb! We will see all of nature prosper-no disease, no droughts, no hurricanes, no pollution. How awesome it will be! What is in the future for the believer cannot be comprehended; but what we do know about it, it’s difficult to imagine how great it will be. Remember that suffering has a purpose even though we often don’t understand why the suffering comes; suffering should produce good fruit in us. As Christ suffered; we will also suffer. 1 Peter 1:3-6: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,….”
Blessings,
Buddy
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