This is the Christian perspective

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sound doctrine, strong faith”

Our Bible verse for today: “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.” Romans 8:22 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “This is the Christian perspective”

In Romans 8:18 Paul said that from his perspective, the sufferings of this present life aren’t worthy of being compared to the glory that is to come. Despite our present struggles in this life, there is something better waiting for us right on the other side of death. Then in verses 19-22, Paul describes the effects of sin on the entire creation. It hasn’t just been humans who have suffered, but all creation. There have been earthquakes and mudslides, hurricanes and droughts and famines, not to mention pollution and terrible wastes of natural resources.

Recently in the news there have been a lot of reports about our need for rare earth minerals so we can make computer chips and cell phones and all the other pieces of technology that require those minerals. But the problem lies in how those minerals must be excavated from the earth. It is essentially strip-mining that leaves huge irreparable scars on the earth. As I’ve looked at those scenes of massive ugly open pits it seems to me that I can literally hear the earth groaning. Paul says that creation itself groans because of all the sin, suffering, ugliness, and destruction.

But then Paul leads us to what is sometimes referred to as “the enlightened Christian perspective.” (Read 23-25) It’s not that the impact of sin on our bodies, in our life, and in all of creation doesn’t matter, it’s that there is more to the story. Or more precisely, this is not the end of the story. That’s what he means in verses 23-25 when he says that those of us who have the Spirit, even as we groan within ourselves, we have the hope of glory, the promise of redemption, a hope that is not seen but which we know is coming. We are so sure of it that we wait for it with eagerness and anticipation, “Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.”

All of what we are experiencing now is just the labor pains that are bringing us closer and closer to the birth of something new and glorious. That’s the Christian perspective.

Many years ago, Pastor Tony Compollo preached a great sermon with the title “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming.” “It was Friday and my Jesus was hanging on a cross; heaven was weeping; and hell was rejoicing. But that was Friday, and Sundy was coming.” My friends, right now, metaphorically, as we struggle and strain and deal with life’s many trials and challenges, it’s Friday, but Sunday is coming! This world is not our home. Our departure from this world is actually our day of birth into the next. And so, the Christian perspective, the one that Paul is teaching here, is that we look past and beyond our current struggles and we focus instead on what lies ahead. It’s what we read in Hebrews 12:2, “I will keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith.”

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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