A Broke Evangelist

November 21, 2024

Romans 8:18-21

Understanding and Enduring Suffering  

“18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”

Suffering. Now there’s a word to brighten your day, right? It’s everywhere we look. Just this morning, I heard that one friend lost his wife of 35 years—a woman he cherished to the very end. She had been battling illness for a while and finally succumbed. On the same morning, another friend laid his wife of 50 years to rest. They had just celebrated their golden anniversary this summer, and then, out of nowhere, she collapsed and passed away within days.

On my way to a high school alumni board meeting (yes, I’m on the board—fancy, right?), I drove through a part of town that’s, let’s say, "teeming" with homeless folks, addicts, and mentally ill vagrants. Honestly, "infested" feels closer to the truth. At night, it’s even worse—people darting out into the streets in dark clothes, almost as if they’re tempting fate. It’s a heartbreaking picture of suffering in its rawest form.

Some suffering, like what my friends are going through, is unavoidable—completely beyond their control. Other suffering, well, we bring it on ourselves. Think about it: drug use, poor choices, or even a lack of discipline when it comes to finances. We max out our credit cards and then stress over the bills. Sometimes, though, it’s not our fault at all. Maybe a company goes under because of poor management, and suddenly we’re out of a job. Suffering can hit us from all angles, fair or not.

Thankfully, Paul’s got some wisdom for us. So stick around—he’s about to shed some light on why suffering is part of the package. Spoiler: it’s not all doom and gloom in Romans 8:18-21…

Romans 8:18 - I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Years ago, I lived in a cul-de-sac that was practically an unofficial walking track. Neighbors would stroll around like they were doing laps at the local football field. But one neighbor stood out with his quirky routine. He was an older gentleman, a little further along in years than my dad, and he’d walk a mile or so around the block—while bouncing a golf ball.

When I first met him, he explained that the ball kept him from getting bored. Honestly, it seemed like a solid idea, but I knew I’d end up chasing that ball halfway down the street if I tried it. We got to talking and discovered we attended the same (very large) church, though we’d never crossed paths. He was someone who truly loved the Lord and couldn’t stop talking about Him. His favorite topic? The future—the ultimate future—where we’ll be when we leave this earth. Many times, when I would come home after a bad day, I would talk to him and he just had a way that made things better, by putting things in their proper perspective.

He had such a joyful, heavenly perspective, always smiling and chatting about God’s goodness. But his home life was far from easy. His wife was battling a severe respiratory illness and was mostly confined to the house on oxygen. He spoke of her often, not in despair, but with a quiet faith, always seeing her struggles in light of God’s blessings. When she passed away, his focus didn’t waver. He was comforted by the thought of her worshiping at the feet of Jesus, and he carried on, though I’m sure he had moments of grief in private.

Years later, my friend John joined her in glory. Now they’re together for eternity, bouncing heavenly golf balls (or maybe just walking golden streets) in the presence of the Lord.

Well, Paul wasn’t clueless or turning a blind eye to the hardships of life—far from it. He went through more trials than most of us could imagine. Yet, even with all that, he firmly believed that the glory waiting for us in the future completely overshadows the struggles of the present. That glory to be revealed in us is no small thing. Without the hope of heaven, Paul himself thought the Christian life would be downright pitiful (1 Corinthians 15:19). But when you view it through the lens of eternity, it’s hands-down the wisest, most rewarding choice anyone could make. What’s even better, this glory isn’t just something we’ll see or experience. It’s something that will be revealed in us. Imagine having that heavenly glow like no other!

Romans 8:19 - For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 

Paul paints a fascinating picture: creation itself is on the edge of its seat, eagerly awaiting the big reveal—the sons of God stepping into their full glory. Imagine all of nature, from the tallest mountains to the tiniest flowers, leaning forward in anticipation, like fans at a championship game waiting for the final buzzer. Why all the excitement? Because creation got swept up in humanity’s mess. When man sinned, creation was pulled into the fallout. Think of it as an innocent bystander dragged into a chaotic fight it never started. Paul says it was “subjected to futility,” meaning it got stuck in a cycle of decay, frustration, and imperfection. The world, once perfect, now groans under the weight of thorns, natural disasters, and even death itself—all because of sin.

But here’s the good news: creation isn’t just suffering aimlessly. It knows a day is coming when all of this will change. When God’s children step into the fullness of their redemption, creation gets to join the party. The ultimate renewal of humanity means the earth itself will be restored—free from decay, frustration, and brokenness. It’s as if the whole world is holding its breath, waiting for that glorious moment when everything gets set right. No more hurricanes or droughts, no more extinction or pollution. Instead, creation will finally flourish as it was meant to, in harmony with redeemed humanity and under the reign of a perfect Creator. Until then, creation groans and waits—just like we do. But it waits with hope, because the end of this story is as glorious as it gets.

Romans 8:20 – For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope.

Only God could pull off something like subjecting creation in hope. Think about it—neither humans nor Satan have that kind of authority or foresight. Sure, man’s sin threw a wrench into things, and Satan loves to stir the pot, but neither of them has the power to weave hope into the mess. That’s a God thing. When creation was subjected to futility—thorns, decay, natural disasters, and all—it wasn’t an act of blind punishment or cosmic chaos. It was part of God’s bigger plan. He allowed it, but He didn’t just leave creation floundering in despair. He planted a seed of hope right in the middle of it all, a divine assurance that things wouldn’t stay broken forever.

Think of it like this: God knew the story wasn’t over. He’s the ultimate storyteller, and this chapter of futility? It’s just building anticipation for the grand finale. Creation’s groans aren’t cries of defeat; they’re the deep sighs of something longing for—and knowing—its redemption is coming. And here’s the amazing part: God doesn’t waste anything. Even in the groaning and the waiting, He’s working all things toward restoration. Man’s sin might have kicked off the mess, and Satan might revel in the chaos, but neither of them gets the final word. That belongs to God, who has been writing hope into the script from the very beginning.

Romans 8:21 - that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

The glorious liberty of the children of God is a package deal—it’s not just for God’s children; all of creation gets in on the action. It’s like a ripple effect: when God’s kids step into their full glory, creation finally breathes a sigh of relief. No more groaning under the weight of decay and dysfunction. Until that day, though, creation keeps on groaning and laboring, like a mom-to-be enduring birth pangs. And just like labor, it’s painful now, but there’s joy on the horizon. Now, about the revealing of the sons of God: Some groups with a bit of a “super-Christian” complex like to claim this means their crew is the big deal creation’s been waiting for—like they’re the Avengers of the spiritual world, about to step out in capes and solve all the universe’s problems. It’s kind of like those who are out there bad-mouthing evangelical Christianity with their warped “deconstructive” theology because they had a bad experience with the lady who headed up the baked goods drive at the church and didn’t let them man the cash box. But let’s be real: that’s not theology; that’s an ego trip.

Paul wasn’t talking about an elite squad of Christians strutting onto the scene with fireworks and fanfare. He was pointing to the day when all of God’s redeemed children will be glorified together, showing the fullness of God’s redemptive plan. This isn’t a private club for the “super-spiritual”; it’s the grand unveiling of God’s family, united in His glory. So while creation groans and waits, let’s keep our feet on the ground (and our egos in check) and remember that this hope isn’t about us being special; it’s about God’s ultimate plan to restore everything in ways beyond our wildest dreams.

And with that, more to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 21, 2024

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