The whole world seems to be hurting and shaking, and moaning and groaning. There’s a lot of hate and destruction in protests around the world. Some justify hate and destruction by identifying as victims or as those who support victims’ rights. Surely, victims’ rights justify outrage and revenge against oppressors? Perhaps as never before, all sides can share one belief: life is futile.
How did we get here on the verge of either nuclear suicide of the planet or Jesus’ return to redeem us from death itself? Here’s a thought: “For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8)
Oh, wow! So, the Bible says God Himself subjected the creation to futility? Is the whole creation in slavery to corruption? Literally, every living thing on earth has always died and will die. Now, that’s futility!
Sure, everyone, including all creatures, have good days, bad days, and average days. Some of us have more than others. Still, futility should teach us we all need something outside of creation to give us hope and life.
The passage in Romans 8 continues, “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 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. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” The Greek word “hope” can be literally translated “confident expectation.”
There is a confident expectation we can have that is well beyond the futility of this world. Thankfully, there is “something outside of creation” that gives us hope and life. That something is Some One. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8)
This week in America during these days and times of Thanksgiving, we can persevere and wait eagerly for God’s promise. Nothing in this creation can compare with the Creator Himself for giving us a confident expectation to live for.
This old world is filled with hate and fear. Maybe that’s not all bad. Since God causes “all things to work together for good,” maybe He’s teaching us that “those who love God” can even persevere over hate and fear while we wait for Him to show “to those who are called according to His purpose” all the good God has for those who believe and trust and love Him.
Give thanks to God, Who loves us far above anything we could imagine.
Daniel Gardner, of Stark-ville, is a syndicated columnist.
