Creation Groaning

I want to do a teaching that encourages us to see reality from God’s perspective. It’s a matter of understanding that God shapes and evolves our outer world to contribute to the work that He is doing within us. Above all things, God is most interested in the human heart, because that is where He has placed the seed of His presence within us. 

The goal of Christian spirituality is to become purified into the divine image of Jesus Christ, so that we may radiate His glory in mind, body, and spirit. This is what salvation is all about, and God will bend everything in our experience to serve this goal.  

This is the reason that Paul tells us in Romans that creation is “waiting in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed” (Romans 8:19). Like humanity, creation has been subjected to the curse of Adam’s sin and, like us, creation is on the journey toward glorification and spiritual freedom. In other words, creation will once again experience the splendor of freedom from death and decay. Creation is waiting because this freedom must come about in humanity first. Paul says this: 

“We ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:23 (NASB)

There’s this idea of groaning, of tension. This tension is within us as God’s new humanity, who have been given the Holy Spirit in order to live in the age of God’s kingdom and escape the age that is passing away, slowly but surely. 

It’s important to note in Romans 8:23 that Paul uses the phrase “redemption of our body.” This “redemption” is our release into the power and glory of a resurrection body. This is what Paul means when he writes that we are “eagerly awaiting our adoption.” This adoption is the full manifestation of God’s new creation in us, around us, and through us. Also, Paul says “our” (plural) and “body” (singular). He is referring to the collective body of Israel, God’s chosen people, who have been called by God to steward the glory of the new creation life and bring it into manifestation.  

In order to manifest the fullness of the kingdom of God, God has poured out the Holy Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28). This pouring out of the Spirit has set fire to the old age, the age that is in the process of passing away (1 Corinthians 7:31). It means the Holy Spirit is present not only within us but around us in everything that is in our experience. 

The point I want to make is that our experience, what is outside of us, is serving the Lord’s purpose within us. This is why Paul writes this: 

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30 (NASB)  

We see the idea here that “all things,” the things of our experience, are working together for good, meaning our salvation, the restoration, and renewal of the human soul. Our destiny is not bound up with any earthly identity or accomplishment, but with becoming like Jesus Christ in ever-increasing measure. The goal of the Christian life is the manifestation of the divine image in us, through us, and around us. 

Paul will go on to write that we are “more than conquerors” of any situation or circumstance because of the indwelling Christ (Romans 8:37). Paul says that nothing in the heavenly or earthly realm can separate us from the love of God that has been poured into our minds, bodies, and spirits (8:39). 

This is an invitation to reorient our thinking. Life doesn’t just happen to us - God shapes reality to grow the life that is already within us. We are not victims. Our destiny is the glory of the divine image! Our sufferings and everything in our experience are working to bring the glory that is already within into ever-increasing manifestation (2 Corinthians 4:10).  

Suddenly, verses like the following become so much more relevant to our spiritual process: 

“My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands… this will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:11-13 (NIV)

This is God speaking, who has sent His Word into the hearts and minds of a new humanity, the Body of Christ. This Word has not come in vain, it will achieve the purpose for which God sent it - the salvation of our humanity. The mission of this Word is so important to God that even nature (the things of our experience) will bend to make way for the manifestation of the glory that is within us. All of this will be for the Lord’s renown, for the glory of the Father, which will “endure forever.” 

Do you see the parallels? This isn’t about nature worshiping man, but about everything in our experience bending to the purposes of God. It’s a metaphor that assures us God is with us in every circumstance, despite our fears or lack of vision. Everything in our experience serves the cause of our spiritual growth. Ephesians says that God has placed “all things” - in the spiritual and natural - under Christ’s feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).  

Remember, if something is happening, it is happening so that God’s presence can be revealed in your mind, body, or spirit. This is the promise that God’s children have, so we can place our rest and trust in Christ. As Peter did, we can join Him by walking above the waves in our experience, because He has power over those waves.