Written ~ 11-01-2023
Romans 8:19-25
19 “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.
20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us.
24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.
25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)”
What is the hope a believer longs for? It is to be in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ and to receive our full inheritance as a child of the Almighty God. While on this earth we can enjoy the beauty of creation, but even creation yearns for the glorious day it will be free from death and decay. If we were to be given our full inheritance here, in our earthly bodies, do you think we would use it to glorify the Lord? I’m guessing probably not. Only because we have a sinful nature that may just want to indulge in worldly pleasure with an inheritance as grand as what our Father in Heaven can give. Instead we are given HOPE. Hope is a powerful thing! If we didn’t have hope, if we didn’t have something to look forward to, what would our purpose be? I love what it says in verses 8:24b-25,
24b “If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.
25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.”
Until then, we wait.
22 “For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23a And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.”
Yes, we wait and we long for the day we step into glory, when we get to see our Father’s face.
23b “We wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us.”
None of us like that word “wait.” But we have to… With patience and endurance we will need to wait.
Let’s look at some definitions of wait from the dictionary:
- to remain stationary in readiness or expectation
- to look forward expectantly
- a state or attitude of watchfulness and expectancy
Do you see a common action in our waiting? Expectation, Expectantly, Expectancy…
I want us to take the time now to read the verses for today in The Message (MSG), it paints a wonderful illustration:
18-21 “That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
22-25 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.”
Beautifully said isn’t it? The longer we wait…the more joyful our expectancy…
Let’s look at a few places where the word “wait” is used in the Book of Psalms (NLT):
Psalm 5:3b ~ “…Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly…”
Psalm 27:14 ~ “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Psalm 37:7a ~ “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act…”
Psalm 38:15a ~ “For I am waiting for You, O Lord…”
Psalm 40:1 ~ “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry.”
Psalm 59:9a ~ “You are my strength; I wait for You to rescue me…”
Psalm 62:1 ~ “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him.”
Psalm 62:5 ~ “Let all that I am wait patiently before God, for my hope is in Him.”
Psalm 119:84a ~ “How long must I wait?…”
The world today has made us creatures of instant gratification. But the Lord asks us to wait, to be patient and to be joyful in our expectant waiting. Soon there will come a day, that you will come into the fullness of your Salvation, you will stand before your Father and be handed the inheritance of a child who has been adopted into this vast family of the Almighty God.
I believe it’s going to be worth the wait!
~AMEN~
Why not wait with us! If you don’t have that hope and expectancy in your heart, choose today to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life.
Pray this prayer…
Dear Jesus, You know my heart, all the things I have done and said. Please forgive me for my unbelief. Please forgive me for all of my sins. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth to die on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose from the dead to give me freedom from sin and death. By faith through believing in Who You Are, I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life, cleanse this heart of mine, white as snow. Help me not to doubt any longer and breathe life into me, fill me with Your light. Thank You Jesus! Amen.
If you solemnly prayed this prayer, tell at least one person, so they can share in your joy!! I rejoice with you! All the angels in Heaven rejoice with you! Psalm 27:14 ~ “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
It is very important to me that those who might be reading these journal pages of mine and don’t yet know the Lord Jesus Christ, that you make that decision. Today. Your heart and mind may not understand everything you have been reading, but if you open your heart to the truth of who Jesus is, you will be saved from sin and death. By the Power of the Holy Spirit you will be amazed at how quickly after giving your heart to the Lord your eyes and ears will be opened to the truth.