HOPE FOR CREATION

-----Original Message-----
From: andre.tarr@gmail.com [mailto:andre.tarr@gmail.com]
Sent: 01 December 2011 08:22 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject:

HOPE FOR CREATION

Romans 8:19-21  The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God
to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its
own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the
creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into
the glorious freedom of the children of God. (NIV)

Everyone who trusts in Jesus should be looking forward to His return. That
Day will mark the end of the 'old order of things' and announce the
supremacy of His Kingdom. It will also be the death toll of sin's reign over
our old natures. And we shall be changed! No longer the rejected people of
earth, we will be revealed as the glorious sons of heaven.

And that is not all. The arrival of the King will also signal that the curse
over creation (Genesis 3:17-19) will be lifted. If the inanimate world could
express emotions, it would rejoice at the prospect of being able to function
properly with no decay. But its redemption is secondary to the 'sons of God'
being revealed. Not until the redeemed have been liberated from the final
ties of sin can their habitat be transformed - as our Lord inaugurates the
new heavens and new earth, the home of righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). 

Much is said about global warming, ecological conservation and creation
care; and we certainly do need to be more responsible stewards of the world
which is our temporary home. But we cannot get the world right any more than
we can make ourselves perfect - both need the Sovereign touch of our God.
However great may be your experience of the church and creation, it is not
heaven! Not until the King comes to reign will the crooked irreversibly be
made straight. Until then we and the creation struggle imperfectly to
achieve our purpose, as we receive daily grace from God. 

Prayer:  Loving Lord. Thank You that our frustration with suffering is not
eternal. Thank You that the Day will come when the reign of Jesus will not
be disputed. I am sorry when I have either wasted my energy in angry
frustration, or passively accepted a 'nothing will ever change' policy in my
life. If the creation is assured of renewal when Christ returns, may I also
choose to look forward with confidence to the return of my Saviour. In the
meantime help me to know how to be a good steward of Your world, learning to
serve You as well as I can - not holding back from my responsibilities now,
yet eagerly anticipating the full unveiling of Your Kingdom. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.
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