That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens. (Romans 8:18-19 MSG)
This passage describes an inner tension that we creatures share with the creation. As far as the creation goes, it seems it can barely contain its longings. Paul also reveals that this is all by design. God is in this with a purpose. Do we know what that purpose is? If creation could speak, what would it say? As we live and speak, what is it we are saying? Are you conscious of any longing within you?
All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. (Romans 8:20-25)
As a younger man, I took issue with Paul; “A sterile and barren body?! Speak for yourself!” I was young and strong and what I longed for then was the fulfillment of my visions. Today, in my sixties, I am more sympathetic to Paul’s words; “A sterile and barren body? Yes, I can better see what you mean now!”
The sixties appear that they will be times of transition with unique temptations. Even when I am tempted to look back with longing for the glory of my youthful strength, the Spirit understands and patiently redirects my longing to things ahead. This waiting is not hurting me at all. In fact, it seems that the object of my longings are being transferred more and more from glorious earthly objectives to the eternal glorious person of Jesus Christ.
All things are good; even the demise of the tent I currently reside within. I am so grateful for this tent. It has served me so well and still has much life in it. I intend to continue to wholeheartedly care for it. But, as the canvas strains and grommets rust, the ocupant can rejoice because new tents will be issued that are not prone to decay. And, if wisdom has her say, the occupant may even learn, through the crucible of aging, that Christ within has never been limited by human strength and that He can be better expressed in the absence of my youthful strength than in its presence.
Father, I pray that in this final trimester, that hope will give birth to more of You than ever before. In the presence of increasing physical weakness, may Your abundant Life find even more expression and may Your presence be known in even greater measure. By your grace, may our hearts be content as we decrease and You increase. May hope convert our errant longings into an ever deepening joyful anticipation. May our longing be tempered in rest, saying, in concert with creation, “Come quickly Lord Jesus and reconcile all things unto Yourself and. thank you that, until that day, our cup is running over with Your abundant Life.” Amen.
Truly Lord, just in Yourself, You are far more than sufficient compensation for any loss we perceive we have suffered.