Friday 21 December 2007

Groaning perseverance

“Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” - Rom 8v23-25

There are some who claim that there is some kind of “victory life” that we can tap into and fly along in our Christian life with no more trials, no more struggles, and no more battled with the flesh. Many hope that something will happen to make the Christian life easier and smoother. I have read many of their books and heard their messages and it all sounds very exciting. I would love to tap into something like that.

Problem is I just can’t see it as biblical. Here in Romans we read of God’s entire creation groaning as it awaits redemption. Leaving aside for now the wickedness around us we can almost hear creation’s groans and we read of earthquakes, storms, and other natural disasters that are the results of sin. Creation must yearn for the redemption of the new heaven and new earth.

God doesn’t leave it there though. Even we ourselves groan as we await our full redemption and adoption. We know that we have hope. We were saved into that hope and assurance but until that hope is seen we groan in anticipation of it.

How do we do it until then? What do we do in the meantime? We eagerly wait in perseverance. I really am excited for the day of redemption to come, in our vernacular, I can’t wait for it. But in reality we have to wait, and we have to wait. How do I wait? I wish I could say something more exciting, but we just have to persevere with a “hopeful endurance.”

Endurance doesn’t sound very nice does it? But at least we have hope at the end. And its better than some pipedream of a trouble-free life that God never promises.

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