I have never forgotten this poster which was hung prominently on the wall of a gym I frequented years ago, and unfortunately, it has proven over time to be prophetic. Truth be told as I watch the strength of my physical body slowly age for the worse, regardless of the effort I put in to delay the onset, change is inevitable. One of the unfortunate results of that is I most certainly groan much more than I used to. The dictionary defines groaning as a mournful sound uttered in pain or grief, due to a sudden or continuing overburden. O how I can relate.
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 NKJV
Yet we find that the Bible tells us that there is another reason that we groan, and as funny as it may sound, it is usually a result of similar circumstances. You see, we all recognize the fact that this body is just a temporary home for us until that day in which we will receive our new bodies as we enter into God’s presence. Notice if you will that Paul uses the word tent to describe the bodies we now possess. A tent is considered a temporary dwelling rather than a permanent one, and it is for this reason Paul describes our present bodies as such. I think given a choice, most of us would prefer to live in a house rather than a tent and enjoy the permanence and protection a house affords.
Paul also mentions the fact that we groan because of our burdens. I think most all of us have had occasion to be reminded of the physical limitations of the bodies we now have, and have longed for a stronger or more durable one. Paul groaned under the weight of his own troubles, and he put it this way;
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 NKJV
The promise we find here is that the glory of our new bodies will completely overshadow whatever we have endured while waiting for them. Something that occurred to me while reading this passage was the statement that the future glory will be revealed in us, and not to us. Ray Stedman put it this way; “The word literally means “into us”. This glory is not going to be a spectator sport, where we will sit up in some cosmic grandstand and watch an amusing or beautiful performance in which we have no part. We are to be on the stage. We are going to be involved in it. It is a glory that will be “revealed into us” and we are part of it.” Paul also goes on to tell us this;
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 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.” Romans 8:19-23 NKJV
Paul says that creation itself groans for the same reasons that we do. At the fall, when sin entered this world, creation was corrupted just as we were and suffers because of it. Have you ever considered that all of the natural disasters that occur around the world is nature’s way of “groaning”? Hard as it might be to believe, Paul tells us in this passage that creation finds itself in much the same position as we do. When we are revealed in our new bodies, so too will creation receive its newness and this is what it is waiting for just as we are.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:1 NKJV
I have given quite a lot of thought lately to just how much I will enjoy my new body when the rapture occurs. Obviously my present condition is the main reason but I can’t help but wonder if the troubles we face because of our physical predicaments are God’s way of helping us realize and look forward to the gift of an immortal, incorruptible body which will be ours for all of eternity? After all, how could we enjoy fully all that Heaven has to offer if we still were walking around in an earthly body with all of the limitations it has?
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 NKJV
“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Romans 8:22 NKJV
Now let me ask you a question here. If, as Paul tells us, “creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed”, and “the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs”, is it not logical to conclude that what the world describes as “natural disasters”, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, drought, floods, fires, etc. is just creations’ way of revealing its’ own expectation of deliverance just as we do? In fact, you could easily make the point that as we are part of God’s creation, when Paul uses the phrase “whole creation” he is referring to us as well. Now at first that might sound a little strange, but consider how often we are told much the same thing throughout the scriptures.
“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.” Psalms 96:11-13 NKJV
The heavens will rejoice, the earth itself will be glad, the sea will roar, the fields will be joyful, and even the trees will rejoice when Jesus returns at the end of the Great Tribulation to judge the world. However this verse also mentions “peoples” rejoicing as well. Jesus Himself said that the stones He created could cry out with rejoicing and praise in this passage from Luke describing His entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:37-40 NKJV
So my thoughts are that if creation itself feels much as we do, and is waiting patiently (or impatiently) for the return of Christ, it seems logical to assume our expectations are the same. We are waiting for the promise of His return and the expectation of deliverance from the effects of sin. As I grow older I find myself appreciating more and more the promise of a new body that will never grow old, and a life free from my sin nature and the temptations to do wrong. I’m sure many of you would agree with me, and have given thought as I have as to just what we can expect when we meet our Savior in the air.
Although I highly doubt that any true believer feels that there is a possibility of being disappointed when we finally get to Heaven, I think it is reasonable to assume that the reality of what we find when we do go home might be somewhat different from some of our expectations as to what life might be like. I recall one time listening to a pastor from California talking about his expectations of surfing on the perfect endless wave in Heaven and wondering if he missed the description in Revelation which says there will be no more seas.
The passage from Romans uses the phrase "earnest expectation" to describe what creation is feeling. In the Greek, this phrase means "anxious and persistent". Are you anxiously and persistently looking for the return of Christ, or are your expectations of what we will find when we get to heaven being overshadowed by your short term expectations on this earth? While the decisions we make in this life surrounding our circumstances are certainly important, we should take care not to let them take away from our expectation of deliverance from this earth, and the joy that awaits us in eternity.
I’m more than willing to admit that I am groaning in this body of death an am eagerly awaiting the new one I will receive when Jesus takes me home. As a believer, that is the promise He has made to me and to all who have made the choice to believe in Him. If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to allow Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by simply praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered all of us by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.
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