A Broke Evangelist

November 22, 2024

Romans 8:22-25

Waiting with Hope for the Upcoming Glory

“22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

I was watching the news this morning and saw reports about some celebrities leaving the country, while others were whining about how horrible things were going to be over the next four years. It’s been three weeks since the election, and the main concern seems to be that the current administration is escalating the conflict between Russia and Ukraine by sending weapons to Europe.

We also have leaders in major cities refusing to cooperate when the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office attempts to deport foreign gang members and criminals who are already creating havoc in their communities. People are being attacked and even killed by some of these criminals (though they are few compared to the total number of those here illegally).

So many things are happening right now. People voted for change, but there are still individuals intent on stirring fear in the hearts of those who listen.

Regardless of political affiliation, we live in an amazing country with a Constitution that makes it virtually impossible for a dictatorship to arise, for the military to be used against those who speak out against the government, or for other extreme scenarios that some claim will happen. And with the exception of extremist factions on either side, the vast majority of the people in this great country will never allow such things to occur.

Have hope and now learn more about hope in Romans 8:22-25…

Romans 8:22 - We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 

This verse can be described as a massive, bustling coffee shop on a Monday morning. The espresso machines are whirring, cups are clinking, and everyone’s in a rush. The baristas are sweating, the line is out the door, and you can almost feel the collective groan of the crowd as they wait for their caffeine fixes. Every person in that shop—whether they’re hurrying to work, studying for an exam, or just trying to wake up—feels the tension, but they all know that caffeine relief is coming. Loving coffee as I do, I can relate to that feeling!

Now, step back a little and imagine now that your coffee shop is the whole world. The trees are like those tired baristas, bending and swaying as they pour out oxygen for everyone. The mountains stand firm, like customers trying to keep it together, but they carry the weight of countless seasons. And the rivers and oceans are like those espresso machines, crashing and flowing, working hard to keep the rhythm going.

But it’s not chaos for the sake of chaos. The world isn’t groaning because it’s broken beyond repair. It’s more like everyone is waiting for their cup of coffee—that satisfying, hopeful moment when everything will feel right again. Creation, like those sleepy (or grumpy and groaning) customers, knows the struggle is worth it because something good is on the way. This groaning isn’t just a complaint; it’s a sign of hope. It’s the deep, collective anticipation of something extraordinary brewing behind the scenes. And just like the baristas know their shift will end and the customers know their coffee will arrive, creation knows that all this effort is leading to a moment of restoration and joy. We can hang in there as we remain “grounded” in hope!

Romans 8:23 - Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 

Like the smell of that coffee, this shows that we have already had a little sneak peek of the amazing glory that’s waiting for us. Maybe it’s like going into a bakery and smelling the goods and knowing what they’re going to taste like, and now we can’t stop thinking about how good it’s going to be. Or even that thrilling anticipation, when you’ve seen the trailer for an epic movie and can’t wait for opening night, or when you’ve gotten the first chapter of a book and are itching to read the rest. There are numerous examples, but it’s no wonder we want more! We’ve experienced the “firstfruits!” These are the early signs of God’s promises coming true in our lives—and it’s just enough to make us hungry for the full banquet.

So here we are: we’re filled with hope, longing, and maybe just a little impatience, because we know that what’s coming is beyond anything we’ve ever known. And honestly, who wouldn’t be excited about that? It’s not just wishful thinking—it’s a deep desire for the completion of something we’ve already begun to taste. It’s the kind of longing that comes with knowing the best is yet to come!

It reminds me of a story of an old woman who used to hold on to her fork whenever she attended a dinner at her church. At the end of the meal, the servers would come out to clear the plates and silverware, but she would always hold onto the fork because that’s what she used for her dessert! She said that the fork reminded her of the best part of the dinner! And so it is with the firstfruits of the Spirit, waiting for the best part of our adoption and redemption!

Romans 8:24 – For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 

The full picture of our redemption might still feel far away, like a finish line we can’t quite see yet (for me, it’s a drive from El Paso to San Antonio, Texas, but I’d be getting off point). But here’s the thing: we keep hoping, keep believing, and keep putting one foot in front of the other because we know God doesn’t break His promises. We might wonder like a little kid, “are we there yet?” over and over, but we have to sit and wait for dad to get us to our destination. Still, we trust the GPS (God’s Promises System) to get us there. You don’t turn around or give up because you know every mile takes you closer to something incredible.

Speaking of traveling from El Paso to San Antonio, when I was 13 years old, my brothers and I traveled with our father through the western United States. We visited many sites along the way and had a great time. Unfortunately, our car started having mechanical trouble, and he wasn’t able to finish the trip with us. So, he put us on a Greyhound bus to San Antonio, hoping that three clueless kids would figure out that staying on the bus and not wandering around was the best idea.

Imagine being a parent and putting your 13-, 11-, and 10-year-old kids on a bus to travel 600 miles! Fortunately, traveling by bus wasn’t as sketchy back then as it is today, and thankfully, there were some nice people who kept an eye on us. We made it to our destination, where our mother met us. My father had faith that he had taught us enough responsibility to make a trip like that by ourselves. Much like how God has His plan for us, my father’s instructions were clear: stay on the bus and enjoy plenty of snacks for the trip, so there would be no need to get off for any reason.

We arrived in San Antonio around the same time our father made it to Los Angeles. Every mile we spent on that bus was an adventure, and for years afterward, my brothers and I would still talk about it!

Romans 8:25 - But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

I like to use a torpedo as an illustration of how keeping hope is like staying on its target. When a torpedo is launched from a vessel, it has a target and uses various methods to get from its torpedo tube to the target, such as preplanned coordinates, sonar, a ship’s wake, or even being operated like a drone, with human direction. But in the old days, torpedoes pretty much relied on the hope that the target was there, using sonar to guide them. As a torpedo traveled, it might drift off course, but with slight adjustments, it would get back on target—sometimes needing to make these corrections multiple times until it hit the target. That’s how we need to be when we’re waiting on God to lead us to what He has in store for us. Now imagine if a torpedo behaved like some believers do. If it quit the journey, it would just die in the water. If it turned around and tried to go home, well, we all know what would happen if a torpedo felt sorry for itself and came back…boom…goodbye torpedo…goodbye ship!

So, we wait with a mix of faith and perseverance, holding on to the truth that the promised glory isn’t just a pipe dream—it’s a reality waiting to unfold. We trust the One who wrote the map and believe that, no matter how long the road may seem, the destination will be worth every step. After all, when God says, “I’ve got this,” you can bet He does!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 22, 2024

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