For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now (Romans 8:22)" + "
One of the more irritating things about being human is that things are irritating. When we get a mosquito bite, it can drive us crazy. Why? Because things like that draw a lot of our attention because it is constantly causing an annoying sensation. We know that no matter how much we scratch the thing that it's not going away. But that's just a smaller example of things we experience in the world that annoy us. There are countless amounts of things we can point to as reasons why we just want to give up and go to the moon. We complain so much about so many things because we see so much wrong. And worse, these things are like that mosquito bite; they just will not go away." + "
The problem with Christians is that we see these many problems and like to flee from them. These annoyances, the signs of evil, breed a flight instinct more than a willingness to fight. When we see the "whole creation" travailing and groaning, that to us is not a reason to do something but a reason to run for the hills. We want to get as far away as possible from the things we see around us. This is why Rapture Theology is so popular among Christians. The best thing they can do with this fussing world, this fussing creation of God, is run away as quickly as possible. But this is not the way of God through Christ." + "
When God saw the world in chaos he sent us his Son (John 3:16). And Jesus told us that as the Father sent him, so is he sending us (John 20:21). But we do not regard his sending us as good news. The very message we say we believe is called the "good news" of Jesus Christ (the gospel). One of the key things we must consider is the fact that Jesus' sending us is a continuation of God's great story of his victory called the gospel. We must see our place in the world not to be as people who complain because of the pain and the constant groaning we experience. We must see it as an opportunity because God sent us for a purpose just as he sent Jesus. Since we are equipped, we do not have a reason to fuss like all of creation. Our pain, our suffering, means ultimate victory for the the whole world. Reflect on this scripture beloved." + "
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:18-19)
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