Groaning into glory

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:22-25 NIV).

This is a photo of my daughter-in-law, Nicole, at her baby shower last Sunday. Also pictured is my first grandson. What? You don’t see him? Oh, he’s there. Just ask Nicole. She’ll tell you that the baby boy is definitely there! She gets constant reminders that even though she doesn’t have him yet, he’s surely coming.

The apostle Paul said that our resurrection hope is like child labor and child birth. He said that all creation is “groaning as in the pains of childbirth.” You see, since Christ has defeated death and become the firstborn from among the dead, the Resurrected One, we now have this same hope. We have the hope of resurrection!

Creation awaits the resurrection of Christ’s followers because when we get our new bodies, the Lord will also make a new earth and a new heaven. Creation can’t wait for the Lord to come!

My wife and I can’t wait for our grandson to come. Sure, there will be some groaning between now and then. But our hope is that a new baby will be born. That will turn our groaning into glory.

We also eagerly hope that all the suffering, frustration and longing that we now experience, which is shared by creation itself, will soon be turned to glory at the return of our King.

He is risen. He is coming again.