GLORIOUS LIBERTY

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. or 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." (Romans 8:19-21, NKJV)

SIN HAS HAD FAR-REACHING EFFECTS. All of creation – everything having its genesis with God during the first six days – has been contaminated by sin. Transgression sent a defiling and damaging wake into the physical, as well as the moral, universe. It threw the shroud of death over the creation, excluding no part of it.

THE SPIRIT INFORMS US "that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" (Rom 8:22). The sentence of death has been passed upon it, and it is groaning with grief under the burden of its own mortality. If you are ever tempted to minimize the seriousness of sin, ponder what a single transgression caused! Death fastened itself on everything created "in the beginning," and has dominated since its entrance into the world.

THE GROANING OF REFERENCE, however, is not one of despair. Rather, it is one of anticipation, as the travail preceding childbirth – i.e. creation "labors with birth pangs." All of creation is unified in this pre-birth labor: i.e., "labors . . . together." Also, the labor has continued from the first sin "until now." The mournful chorus of travail can be heard by all with ears to hear.

AND WHAT IS IT FOR WHICH all creation groans? Intuitively, the cosmos is in a stance of hope, or anticipation. God has "subjected" creation to mortality "in hope." It is in bondage now, but it will not always be so. It will yet throw off the shackles of corruption!

THERE IS A SINGLE EVENT the creation anticipates. It knows when this occurs, it will be released from "futility" (NASB) and "frustration" (NIV). That occurrence is "the glorious liberty of the children of God." That is nothing less than the time when mortality will be "swallowed up of life" (2 Cor 5:4). This is the resurrection of the dead, when "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor 15:54). At that time, death will lose its sting, and the grave will cease to have victory (1 Cor 15:55). That is the time of the "glorious liberty of the children of God." Of all that are raised, the saints alone will gain an advantage in the resurrection. For the unjust, it will be "the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29). Thus, the whole creation is not simply waiting for the resurrection of the dead, but more specifically for the "resurrection of the just" (Lk 14:14).

WHAT IS THE "GLORIOUS LIBERTY" for which creation longs? It is nothing less than the "freedom of glory" (NASB). When the saints are "glorified," they will be freed from every consequence of sin. Not only will their bodies be new, all inabilities, restrictions, and downward proclivities will be removed. Their memories will no longer dredge up unprofitable things. Their affections will no longer be touched by the transitory and defiled by the things of this world. They will never again be tempted, nor will there be a veil of any kind between them and their God. What they have earnestly desired, they will be free to experience and enjoy. There will no more dark shadows, deficient understanding, or remorse of any kind. No more need for repentance, recovery, or restoration. Never again will their spiritual resources be depleted. They will never again cry out for help, lament because they have sinned, or need to resist the devil. They will be in "the glory," where none of these things can enter.

ALL OF THIS IS INVOLVED in being "glorified" – something to which we have been appointed (Rom 8:30; Col 3:4). If justification has brought wonderful change and power, what will be brought when those "whom He justified" are "also glorified!" Freedom will begin that is far beyond any present imaginative capabilities.

AT THAT TIME THE WHOLE CREATION, or natural order, "will be liberated from its bondage to decay" (NIV). It is then that the words of the prophets will be fulfilled. "Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD . . . the little hills rejoice on every side . . . the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands" (Psa 96:12; 65:12; Isa 55:12). Who is able to comprehend the glory of what is to come! We ourselves will be new in every way, and surrounded by a renewed and exulting creation. Everything will be conducive to gladness and rejoicing!

BUT THE CREATION is not alone in this anticipation. Believers have the edge on the creation now, having received the "first fruits of the Spirit" (Rom 8:23) – something withheld from the creation. Those "first fruits" have produced a strong anticipation in us. Thus it is written, "Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Rom 8:23, NIV). It would be refreshing to read on some religion marquee, "Come, groan with us!"

– Given O. Blakely