| Romans 8:18-22 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." Paul said that "the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." Why did he say that? Because all things are in submission to the authority of sin. When God created all things in the universe, He saw all things were good; when God created human beings, He also gave the responsibility to rule the land to us and God saw that as good too. Adam named all the animals because God gave the authority to him. Even though human beings committed sin against God, He never took the authority of ruling the land back from human beings. Because human beings are under the authority of sin, the land is indirectly under the authority of sin; therefore, Paul said in verse 20: "For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it..." When people are in sin and don't follow God's will in ruling the land, our environment becomes polluted. As people over-develop the land, top soil is lost and it resulted in famine; as more oil wells were drilled, earth plates was shifted and it resulted in more earthquakes; as more factories and cars emitted more exhaust, the air becomes more polluted. As we live in a polluted environment, we blame God and ask Him why He allowed these things to happen. Actually, all these problems were caused by the sin of people. Not only have we polluted the land, we also suffer other outcomes from our sinful choices. Nevertheless, in the midst of all our sufferings, God is still graceful and merciful. Sometimes He sends angels to protect us, and He blesses us through the comforting and prayer by brothers and sisters. So many times we were able to persevere through suffering because of all the support from the loving brothers and sisters around us. Sometimes God even manifest His mercy in the midst of suffering through prayer for healing. God is indeed filled with mercy - even the universe and the land know the mercy of God. Therefore, even the land is expecting for God's work. In verse 21 say that we "hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay" because God will eventually come out victorious. You and I need the same expectation when we are suffering. 
Pray with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, I thank you because you are the master of all things in the universe. Although the world we are living in is filled with darkness and sin, you are still in control and you are graceful to us when we are suffering. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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