Join us as we explore the profound implications of global suffering and the hope anchored in the redemption of the world. Paul’s writings remind us that the chaos and disorder experienced across the globe are merely birth pangs preceding a new age. This episode invites Christians to act as interpreters of these events so that the broader world can understand and anticipate the glorious future promised by faith.
So Paul has spoken to us about sharing in Christ’s sufferings, and now he launches into the suffering of the whole globe, the suffering of all humanity, in a passage that demonstrates, in my opinion, so clearly that Paul, in teaching us, has in mind the redemption of the whole world. He says, For I consider that the suffering of this present time, the sufferings, plural, of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For 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. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope. But hope that is seen is not hope, for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Now, this is just a remarkable passage. And in my short-sighted days, many decades ago, I’m sure I’m short-sighted still in many ways, but in this sense in which I’m referring to now, I thought that Paul was only talking about creation in its inanimate form. in the rocks and the trees and the skies and the seas and the wonderful green of the earth and all of that and the animals, that he was simply talking about creation separate from us. But no, when you look carefully at these verses, you realize he’s talking about the whole of humanity. For we know, he says, that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Did you notice that word birth pangs? I think in the King James Version, I may be mistaken here, just check it out. I think it says, for we know that the whole creation groans and labors with pains together until now. But these pains that Paul talks about, the Greek word there is the pains of a woman giving birth or waiting to give birth. Birth pangs. This is God’s creation. Do you understand all that’s going on in the world, all the chaos, all the disorder, all the crime, all the evil, all the whatever it may be, is a birth pang of a new age. Christ is going to return. He’s going to separate the sheep from the goats. And the sheep are going to be prepared to witness to the goats, for they are going to be the vessels of mercy, witnessing to the vessels of wrath. They are to be the priests interceding. And then comes the judgment when all of this is reconciled again. and the sheep and the goats are brought together because God’s goal is that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall acknowledge that and make an oath that Christ is their righteousness and strength. This is simply a remarkable passage. It is along with chapter 5, the second part, verses 12 onwards, this passage demonstrates—I have to say there’s a third passage, and that’s Romans 9-11—how universal in Paul’s mind is the salvation that Jesus has brought. He will bring it through the good news about himself. And those who resist it will come under judgment until they too receive it. So let’s look at these verses more in detail. For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared, not worth comparing with the glory which shall be revealed to us. Now, you and I are men and women of faith, aren’t we? And I’m telling you, you need to remain a man or woman of faith, because only as you believe in the glory that is to come are you going to be able to tolerate the sufferings of this world. The more we live, the longer we live, the older we get, the more we realize that all the dreams that we have simply have not been fulfilled. And all that we thought about in regard to our healthy youthfulness is now fading away as we get older. And if we do not see the glory to come, if we do not realize what’s coming when Jesus will make all things new and everything, there shall be no more pain or suffering or sorrow or tears. He will make all things new unless we hang on to that. Then the pains of this world become almost overwhelming. But we, in our faith life, say, no, they’re not worth comparing to the glory that is to come. We talk about stuff, you know, that we don’t really know much about. This glory to come, what is it? I mean, you remember Jesus was transfigured. And people, those disciples that were with him at the time, saw his face shine like the sun, his clothing as white as pure wool. It was an astonishing thing that they saw. But that is something of what we shall be like. In the kingdom of God, we shall shine like the sun, Jesus said. Now, is this, you know, pretty figures of speech? Or are we about to enter a humanity or begin a humanity that is simply beyond everything we can imagine? The glory that shall be revealed to us is a new creation, but it is not like the old creation where Adam was made from the breath of God and the dust of the earth. According to 1 Corinthians 15, we shall have bodies that are heavenly, made as Christ’s was. It’s hard to put it all together, but we know that there is something coming that is absolutely magnificent. You know, in this earth, We look with concern at the development of certain nations, the rise of China, the rise of India, what’s going to happen to America when this happens a decade or so from now, and all of that. But what we need to be concentrating on is the rise of the kingdom of God. And it’s not going to rise like the rise of China or the rise of India. It’s going to be like a stone cut out without hands, according to Daniel chapter 2, and And it’s going to hit the earth and just proliferate all over the earth. That is what’s going to happen. And so we need to look to the kingdom of God and recognize what is coming. We meditate on this. We pray about this. We pray for our loved ones to be prepared and ready for it. That’s what we need to do. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing. Now, how do you consider that? Well, there’s something you and I have to do, and it’s a faith thing. We’ve got to stop feeling self-pity. We’ve got to stop thinking that we are being ill-treated or people don’t appreciate us or don’t love us and all the rest of it and stop whining. I’m not saying that we must deny our suffering. What Paul says is that we partake in Christ through our sufferings. But look, there are lots of whining, complaining, bitter, and there’s a word I can’t come up with that I’m thinking of, resentful. That’s the word Christians today. And, you know, you’ve got to let it go. If you consider that the sufferings of this world are not worth comparing, then don’t give them attention. Don’t whine through life. Don’t complain to your kids or your parents about all the suffering you’re going through, but meet it boldly, embrace it, and use it. Use it to move forward in growth and in faith in Christ. If you are one of those who says, I consider that the sufferings of this world are not worth comparing with the glory that’s to come, then let us all stop complaining. Yes, go before the Lord, whine about things, complain to him, and then have faith and say, “‘Lord God, even though I’m suffering, I will give thanks to you that this is not worth comparing with the glory that’s to come. And I thank you more that these sufferings are making me reach forward to the glory that is to come.'” because I’m looking forward to what is yet to be, and that my humanity will then know its full potential. This is how we need to be. We cannot go around complaining. We cannot go around whining and being resentful. For, Paul says in verse 19, the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. What does that mean? Well, it means that there is something of a longing in the creation, both animate and inanimate. All the pain that the suffering world is experiencing is something of an expectation. It’s not a mere suffering. The world is going through a turmoil because it knows unconsciously that there is something glorious to come, and it can hardly wait for it. That’s what you and I need to understand. When we open the news in the morning online or in a newspaper. Well, I guess we don’t do it in newspapers these days, but we look at it online or the TV. When we see the sufferings of the world, we must remind ourselves that this suffering is an anticipation. It’s the world’s unconscious longing for something that it knows it should have and that something is missing. The world knows that something is missing, but it cannot put its finger on it. It cannot identify it. It can’t put it into words until the scriptures are brought before it, until you and I as Christians can formulate into words for the sake of the world’s humanity what they are really going through. You and I are the speakers for the world. We are the loudspeakers for the world. We are the interpreters of what the world is going through. We know. because God has revealed it to us. Not because we’re any better, but because God has revealed to us how and why people are suffering and what is to come. And that is our mission in the world and to our friends and our neighbors and our loved ones, to let them know we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ so that we may be identified with Him, so that when He comes, He will scoop us all up into His kingdom where All this suffering will be understood in the light of God’s grace who enters into suffering so that he might have an intimate relationship with his creation. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. You see, the creation knows that there is something to come in Christians yet. The sons and daughters of God have to be revealed. Those people not who are perfect, but those people who are trusting in Christ. They will be the revelation to the world. The ones, that is you and I, as we trust. will help the world finally, through jealousy of the people of God, to want what you and I have. If you’re doubting me at this point, read Romans 11, verses 30 to 32. Thanks for listening today, Colin Cook and How It Happens. This is a broadcast you can hear on the radio at 10 o’clock in the evening, repeated at 4 in the morning, in the Denver and Colorado and surrounding states areas on KLTT AM670. And you can also hear it any time of the day or night on your smartphone. Simply download a free app, soundcloud.com or podbean.com or Spotify or whatever, and key in how it happens with Colin Cook when you get there. Thank you so much for all your support. If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so online at faithquestradio.com. See you next time. Cheerio and God bless.
Join us as we explore the profound implications of global suffering and the hope anchored in the redemption of the world. Paul’s writings remind us that the chaos and disorder experienced across the globe are merely birth pangs preceding a new age. This episode invites Christians to act as interpreters of these events so that the broader world can understand and anticipate the glorious future promised by faith.
