Daily Word

In the middle of Romans 8—a chapter that deals with the life in the Spirit we receive through the new birth—Paul speaks these remarkable words.

Just before this, he has discussed the suffering we must endure to share in the glory God has prepared for all His children: our ultimate transformation into the likeness of our risen and glorified Saviour.

Paul makes it clear that the suffering, death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus encompass not only humanity, but all of creation.

The Fall has afflicted everything created with destructive, perverting, and deadly forces—humans, animals, plants, and indeed, matter itself. Consequently, the entire creation—including God’s children—groans and writhes in the pains of childbirth, longing intensely for its liberation, and looks for “new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

One day, all of creation will radiate with the glory of God. Then ”the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fattened steer will be together; and a little boy will lead them. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Thus prophesies Isaiah.

And in the Book of Psalms, we read: ”May the heavens be joyful, and may the earth rejoice; may the sea roar, and all it contains; may the field be jubilant, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy” when the Lord comes to judge the earth and remove all evil—all destructive forces—from the whole of creation.

The key to the liberation of all creation lies with you and me—those of us born again of God’s Spirit. Every tiny flower, the grass under your feet, your neighbour’s dog, the tiger in the jungle—all of it cries out, urging us to press through whatever hinders us from reaching the goal of our salvation, no matter the cost.

Jesus gave everything—paying with every drop of blood in His body—to set you and me free from our enslaved, meaningless lives. Now, there is a price that we must pay for the liberation and glorification of the rest of creation.

Paul says like this: ”I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Do you agree with that?

Why not read the whole section in Romans 8:18-30 and let yourself be gripped by the longing of creation!