Sermon for Trinity 4, July 10,
2022
Romans 8:18–23 18For I conclude that our
sufferings at the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is
going to be revealed to us. 19In fact, creation is waiting with eager longing for the
sons of God to be revealed. 20For
creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but by the will of the
one who subjected it, in the hope 21that even creation itself will
be set free from slavery to corruption, in order to share in the glorious
freedom of the children of God. 22For
we know that all of creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the
present time. 23And not only
creation, but also we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan
inwardly while we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our
body. (EHV)
God’s children wait in
eager expectation.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Consider
the stories of two boys. The first is
about ten years old from a middle-class family.
His favorite meal of the year is thanksgiving dinner at his
grandmother’s house, and today is the day.
He is so excited about eating that great meal that he skipped breakfast
in order to be extra hungry. As the
family attends church that morning, his stomach begins to growl, and he is even
more eager for the feast. However, when
they get to his grandmother’s house, she announces that they will have to wait
because the turkey isn’t quite done. A
short while later, a call comes that part of the family is delayed because of
car trouble, and now the great dinner is postponed a little longer. You can imagine that hungry boy squirming as
he observes all those marvelous goodies, while he is compelled to wait before
they partake!
The second boy has a completely different
story. He is about 6 years old and
living in an orphanage in a third-world country. Since his parents died, he has never had a
lap to sit on, a loving hug, and seldom more than barely enough food to survive. He has no toys, has never seen a television
or computer, and until recently he had no hope.
But then comes the news—a wealthy family from a far away distant land
has adopted him, and as soon as they come to take him home, he will enjoy every
blessing one could ever imagine, but oh the anxiety as he waits to see the
mysteries of his new rescuing parents.
In a way, our story is a combination of these
two. We too are eagerly awaiting our
adoption as sons of God. Yet, while we
remain on earth, we don’t fully experience what that all entails, and while we
wait, there will be some hunger pangs, some dark days and difficult
trials. Still, in the grand scale of
eternity, our suffering while here on earth lasts but a blink of an eye compared
to the eternal life that is already ours.
Therefore, St. Paul reminds us, God’s
children wait in eager expectation.
As Paul wrote this letter to his fellow
believers in Rome, no one was under the delusion that being a Christian was
easy. Paul had certainly endured numerous
afflictions that had delayed his coming to that congregation, and the
Christians in Rome were already undergoing trials and persecution for following
Jesus. Still, it is sometimes easy for
anyone to wonder why life doesn’t get easier when our God is the Creator and
Redeemer of all things. You and I might
be tempted to ask why we still suffer?
First, Paul answers, “I conclude that our
sufferings at the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is
going to be revealed to us.” By the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he asks us to remember what is to come. Don’t just look at the present because
everything connected with earth will soon pass away. This life, and the world that seems so
essential to us today, is ours only for a very short time. Even the ancients who lived seven, eight, or
nine hundred years experienced only a blip in time compared to eternity. So, in contrast to that ten your old boy
agonizing about his dinner being delayed, God’s children wait in eager expectation,
because we are assured that what is coming is so marvelous that any pain or
trial we endure, now, will fade to a distant memory very soon.
Furthermore, we need to acknowledge that Christians
are not the only ones who suffer. Yes,
Jesus foretold that we would suffer many things for following Him, and we often
endure greater hardships than the idol-worshipping world. Yet, Paul writes, “In fact, creation is
waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed. For creation was subjected to futility, not by
its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in the hope that
even creation itself will be set free from slavery to corruption, in order to
share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
Though that is often hard for us to remember as
we observe the heathen enjoying success and worldly pleasures, the whole world
is under the curse of sin. No matter
what religion a person might follow, life will have its trials, hardships, and
eventual death. Even the material world
suffers on account of sin.
Understand, though, before the fall into sin,
nothing was subject to death. Mountains
didn’t erode. Storms didn’t wreak havoc
and floods didn’t wash away towns, homes, and roads. It is very possible that no animal was
subject to predators preying on its young and weak. But, because Adam and Eve abandoned God to
follow the devil’s deceits, every part of this planet is made to suffer
hardship and decay. Even modern science,
that gets so much wrong in its pursuit of proving God doesn’t exist,
acknowledges that everything steadily decays.
But why is everything “subjected to futility?”
The Bible tells us it is because God didn’t
want anyone to think this world is paradise.
Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden to protect them from
the possibility of eating from the Tree of Life which would have caused them to
be stuck forever in this dismal, dying world.
At the same time, God allows this world to exist in all its corrupt and
dying decay, so that sinners like you and me will be seeking an answer to our
pain and by God’s grace be brought into His love in Jesus. Thereafter, having been brought to faith by
the Holy Spirit, God’s children wait in eager expectation. and
Likewise, even the stones, hills, forests, plants,
animals, birds, and bugs long to be set free from the destruction mankind’s sin
has caused. The creation exists because
God wanted to bless humans with a wonderful home, but sin brought corruption
and decay. The personification of these nonhuman
things tells us that God is serious about turning mankind away from rebellion
into freedom.
Now, so much of our world doesn’t understand true
freedom. Very often, people assume
freedom means we can do whatever we please with no consequences. Basically, our sinful nature makes us desire
to take God’s place of authority. This
is the wicked gift we received from the devil’s temptation. As Adam and Eve abandoned their trust in God
to trust the devil’s lies, so their children do the same. However, through faith in Jesus, God has provided
true freedom. Freedom from death. Freedom from slavery to sin. Freedom from the eternal punishment set aside
for the devil and his wicked demon hoard.
Paul testified, “For we know that all of
creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the present time.” There is nothing more completely unhappy than
someone who is rebelling against God’s righteous ways. The evidence in the news tells us that the
wicked are never satisfied. Tyrants
always want more power, more real estate, more control over everyone around
them. Those who flaunt their deviancy
show bitter hatred to anyone who disagrees.
They are incensed by anyone who would seek to steer them to something
better. But still, there is hope.
The truth is none of us came to faith in Jesus
by our own choosing. In his letter to
the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “Formerly, we all lived among them in the
passions of our sinful flesh, as we carried out the desires of the sinful flesh
and its thoughts. Like all the others,
we were by nature objects of God’s wrath.” (Ephesians 2:3) Until the Good News of what Jesus has done
for us worked faith in our hearts, we were destined to suffer forever for our
guilt. Yet, God didn’t leave us
hopeless.
You see, God says, “I take no pleasure in
the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from their way and
live.” (Ezekiel 33:11) God allows
all the tragic suffering in this world for one purpose, so that when He offers
rescue, we will receive it through faith.
When the reality of hopelessness finally readies us for God’s love, He
is there to give us what we need, which is Jesus. Paul wrote, “Indeed, it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that
no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
As long as we reside in this world, we will
have trouble. Jesus acknowledged this while
He promises victory. He said, “I have
told you these things, so that you may have peace in me. In this world you are going to have
trouble. But be courageous! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) It is easy to become discouraged when the
world attacks or the vagaries of life throw sorrow and pain in our path. Yet, victory is ours because Jesus lived and
died in our place. Jesus faced the worst
this world could do as the devil tempted Him in every way he could scheme up, yet
our Savior overcame it all, and having suffered death for our guilt, Jesus rose
from the grave triumphant over every evil, so that we could stand with Him in
victorious joy forever in heaven.
In this letter, Paul admits that “we
ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we
eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” The Holy Spirit doesn’t deny that our lives
in this world will have hardships and pain.
Rather, He points us to the joys that lie ahead of us. We have the firstfruits of the Spirit. You might ask, “What are those?”
The answer includes everything we receive
through the Spirit’s work. We have the
Good News of all Jesus has done to free us from the devil’s chains. We have faith in Jesus that gives us eternal
life, reconciliation, and peace with God Almighty. We have forgiveness with the holiness Jesus
lived credited to our accounts. Through
faith in Jesus, we have the surety of standing before Him on Judgment Day and
hearing Him declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew
25:21)
Dear friends, like that little orphan boy in
our earlier story, you and I may struggle to imagine all the good things that
will be coming our way because of Jesus.
However, the Bible shows us many amazing pictures of what lies
ahead. We can’t always understand what
it will be like, but Jesus assures us of that future saying, “Look! God’s dwelling is with people. He will dwell with them, and they will be his
people. God himself will be with them,
and he will be their God. He will wipe
away every tear from their eyes. There
will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things
have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
For these promises and for the glory we cannot yet fully comprehend, God’s
children wait in eager expectation.
Amen.
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