For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly 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 also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
And not only this, but also 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.
For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Ro. 8:19-25 NASB)
There is so much to learn from Scripture. The wealth is at time overwhelming and yet so reliably present in times of need. God has given us an amazing blessing and we are wise to get into the Scriptures and feed on it.
The urgency for God’s people to engage and be present as HIS light becomes obvious in this portion of Scripture. In the beginning God’s people abandoned the stewardship of His creation and opened the door for evil to enter and even overtake their lives. Likewise we can read that we have all fallen short of the glory of God. We desperately need the manifestation of the Son of God in our lives.
What part of the redemption story is God telling through your life? What is your inheritance? The portion He has set before you to take back for Him? Creation is groaning and suffering pains at the moment. If we are only waiting for a better day when He will come and fix it all we may just be missing it altogether. A new generation is rising and they have been called to engage as the light of Jesus in every area of life. He is redeeming all things, making all things new.
The inheritance is not just seeing families restored, fathers and mothers love like Jesus, farmland radiate with energy and healing power, technology that both intrinsically and in purpose serves God, media that glorifies God and so forth. GOD is our inheritance. Everything else is a byproduct, regardless of how joyful we are about it’s restoration.
It is a far greater undertaking to make all things new through restoration rather than re-creating. We know God can create the most perfect expression. What He is working on now is redeeming and restoring all things to their Kingdom purpose. Like you and I are being renewed as we walk with Jesus, so will creation be renewed. It is the power of God that holds all things together. As we covenant with Him and one another we will see the heavenly power bring healing and restore. Testimonies are already flourishing around the earth. We can believe that individual lives are being transformed, even soft social layers like family, education and so forth, but is actual creation, including the earth being redeemed too?
Admittedly there are several different views on how things will play out. There are however some key statements made by God himself that are worth considering. Let’s look at a few:
“Thou sendest out Thy Spirit, they are created, And Thou renewest the face of the ground.” (Ps. 104:30 YLT)
Here is an old promise of renewal and an indicator of the restoration of what God created.
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” (Is 65:17 NASB)
“For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “So your offspring and your name will endure.” (Is. 66:22 NASB)
These two verses from Isaiah indicate something brand new, a new creation. As we read New Testament scriptures we find there is a climactic moment in history where God will profoundly intervene and publish His eternal heavenly template.
When Jesus taught the disciples to pray He started out with:
“Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt. 6:9,10 NASB)
Alongside this he left His followers with this command:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19,20 NASB)
The Great Commission has far greater reach than merely seeing people saved, or get inside the door to the Kingdom. It is an all encompassing call to immerse the people groups of the earth into the presence and reality of God. When all things come under God’s rule in wisdom and love, we will see the power of God manifest in healing and restoration. The restoration is so that all things will function according to their God-given purpose, thus not an end in itself, but a new starting point.
Will dirt, rocks, soil, trees, air, atmosphere and animals be redeemed as well? There is significant indication that all this is part of God’s purpose. We ought to continue proclaiming the Good News to ALL of Creation. This connects directly to seeing the wisdom of God restored in all areas of life. People are discipled in Character (Love), Wisdom and Skills. Wisdom relates to understanding the nature of things and their God-given purpose. Skills are individual and unique expressions of glory.
We often diminish the drawing power of the revealed wisdom of God in seemingly insignificant areas of life, but they all carry the potential to display the goodness of God to the hungry and thirsty. Through all things we can then testify of God and His Kingdom. We all have unique expressions and our response is to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1 NASB)
Our pursuit in all these things must be God himself. Our worldview and our view of history, past, present and future carries immense power to lock up or release. It gives a framework for our pursuit of God. A limited worldview will limit our view of God. A false view of history does the same.
There are many unknowns and mysteries, but we have been called to engage. The time is now and the scope is everything!