Creation Waits...

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we are saved.
Romans 8:19-24a (ESV)


I've been sitting on this passage for a couple of days now.  It's amazing to me that creation is longing for the day that God will free it from bondage - in direct correlation to God's adoption of his children.  It eagerly awaits when God will reveal the sons of God.  Wow.


I don't have my Study Bible with me right now, but I imagine that this passage can be talking about two different things.
1. Jesus Christ freed creation from the bondage of sin and overcame and will overcome the penalty of sin for those who love him.
2. With each person who passes from death to life (either in this world - as bound by sin - or when one physically dies and gains their eternal life), creation rejoices in God's glory.


This passage reminds me that God's plan of salvation is about so much more than us.  Yes, He loves us and wants to redeem us back to Him.  However, His plan of salvation is about His glory and goodness.  There is no God like the Almighty, Holy God.  He not only deserves our worship just for being God (something that falls on the deaf ears of a rebellious and defiant culture), but He deserves our worship and love because He is a loving, holy, wonderful God.  And creation is eagerly awaiting His plan to be revealed.


The events and problems in our life absolutely will not compare to the reality of God's glory when we see it.  Do we live our life in light of that truth?  It's so easy to get sucked into our daily ordeals or the pain in our life.  Yet when we dwell on our pain we are forgetting God's goodness.  When all we can think of is our troubles, we are making this life more about us than about Him. 


To those who don't truly know God's goodness, that statement sounds as though Christianity is about being insignificant.  The truth is that we are so much more significant but only through Christ.  As a child of God we are infinitely blessed.  As a child of God we should be humbled by that, not prideful or arrogant.  Followers of Christ are humbled by His humble example - He humbled himself even to death on a cross as Philippians reminds us.  Yet in our humility we find much greater joy than if we were to make much of ourselves and our circumstance.  There is no greater love and peace than to rest in His love.