Join us for an insightful discussion on the inevitability of suffering and its transformed meaning through faith. Uncover the enigmatic intersection of creation’s futility and divine hope as interpreted by Apostle Paul. Learn why humanity’s inclination toward despair in worldly trials is a misinterpretation of God’s greater plan, which promises redemption and eternal joy beyond current afflictions.
00:00:05 Discussion on Romans chapter 8 and Suffering
SPEAKER 01 :
So we continue to look at Romans chapter 8, verses 18 onwards, where Paul is expansively now talking about suffering, not simply our own suffering, but the suffering of all the world. And remember, this is stated in the context of the resurrection life of Jesus Christ, that we are now no longer subject to the power of death, We are now counted in Christ’s resurrection, which we know incipiently, just a little bit, droplets now, but the whole thing will be ours at the coming of Jesus. And so that’s the first thing we need to recognize, that suffering is now no longer a part of death. My goodness, when I say that, I am staggered at the thought of it. You see, this whole chapter is reconciliation to the heart of the Father so that we are now in the Spirit, in the resurrection of Jesus, and thus, when we experience suffering, it is not the suffering of death. It feels like it, doesn’t it? And it certainly wants to nag our minds as if we’re nearing death. But we are not under the power of death and therefore suffering is an instrument of life. Well, we’ll see that as we go on through the chapter, through the section. So he says, I consider that the sufferings of this present world are not worth comparing or worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. And that’s what we studied somewhat yesterday. Then he says, for the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And that’s what we looked at yesterday. That in some mysterious, mystical way, the pain and suffering of this world, which looks like death throes, and of course, unbelievers continually talk about the death of the world and global warming killing us all and what have you. Those pains and sufferings of the world are an eager expectation. How ironic, how odd, how strange. It seems that the world has a consciousness. The humans, as well as the inanimate objects of the world, have a consciousness that that there is something more, that this suffering is not normal, that this is not what was meant to be in the world. And therefore, there is an eager expectation within this suffering that this is moving towards life, not death. For the earnest expectation of the creation, creation, note, not just a few, the whole creation, eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. And it waits for that revealing because, you see, Jesus Christ and our Father in heaven have a plan for the sons of God, and that is that they be saved, that they may witness like vessels of mercy to the rest of the world, so that they too, the vessels of wrath, may receive mercy. That is clearly stated in Romans chapter 11, verses 30 to 32. You and I have a mission, not only here in this world, but in the final judgment, where the jealousy for the people of God, the world’s jealousy for the people of God, will finally cause them to call out for mercy and to bow before the living God. Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall acknowledge, as they see righteousness and mercy and joy in the people of God, that in Him alone, in God alone, is their righteousness and strength. And so, you see, the world is eagerly waiting for the revelation of the sons of God. Don’t think that we’re holding everything up. That’s not the point. The point is that God has a plan, and he’s putting it in order according to his sovereign timing, in which the world will see what it’s like to be a redeemed man and woman of God and child of God. And that redemption will blow the world away and will cause them to long for that salvation which they will call upon God for mercy for and will receive. And then it says, because the creation itself, this is verse 21 of chapter 8, because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption. I’m sorry, I’ve jumped a verse. I didn’t mean that. The creation was subjected to futility. not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope. Now, when was the creation subjected to futility? Well, of course, that was at the fall of Adam and Eve, wasn’t it? When humankind separated themselves from God and brought sin and death, the kingdom of sin and death, into the world, God determined that that creation should be put under futility. What is futility? Purposelessness. Emptiness. And that was for a very definite purpose. The world needed to understand that nothing in this globe, nothing on this globe, nothing in this humanity can fulfill an eternal purpose. All of it is futile. Now, that is very, very hard to take, especially if you’re young and you’ve got all your dreams ahead of you and plans and great goals. It just seems awful to be told that the creation is under the power of purposelessness and futility, but it is. We receive it by faith when we’re young, and we learn by faith much more when we’re older that this is the truth. that all the great schemes of humankind, all the great plans of globalism, they are futile. It’s not that we must become cynical. This is not a call to cynicism. It’s a call to reality. Recognize that no matter how great you think the things are that you are accomplishing on earth, they are ultimately futile. Because the kingdom of God must come. Why does God subject humanity to futility? Because he has to show us that this fallen, broken humanity is fallen, is broken, and cannot make it into the kingdom of heaven. You and I as Christians have accepted this. Perhaps we don’t most of the time, but we try to by faith. that this world is not our home. It is a futile world. It is a purposeless world. Don’t put too much meaning in everything you do. Yes, yes, certainly take care of your family, put meaning into love and care and mercy and kindness, but don’t put too much meaning into the material things that seem to make up this world because they are actually futile. And so, Paul has said here something enormously, enormously globally meaningful. The creation was subjected, this is the curse, you see, what we call the curse, the fall of man, was subjected to futility, to purposelessness. Not willingly, that is not the choice of creation, the choice of God. because God had the greater plan for eternal life, deathlessness, immortality, incorruptibility, pure, endless joy and pleasures forevermore, and this world in its futility cannot produce it. And so notice that this verse ends up with something startling, for the creation was subjected to futility not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope. Ah, this is the goodness of God. You see, God isn’t cruel and hard and wanting to subject the creation to futility so that we could all go moping around in purposelessness and meaninglessness and saying, oh, woe is me, what’s the point, what’s the point? No, that’s not what God has in mind. He wants us to lift our sights and our faith to a place higher, to eternity, to the heavenly things where there is hope. And this word hope, as Paul has used it already in a new and different meaning, is not wishful thinking. It is a certain expectancy, certainty. So we have a creation, we have faith in a creation that is to come, that will be absolutely certain and full of meaning. No purposelessness anymore. Now link all this to what Paul has been saying about suffering. You know when we suffer, whether it’s the suffering of ourselves or our loved ones, things seem to be so purposeless and death seems to be near at hand. But we are to have a faith that says this suffering that I am going through and that my loved ones are going through is not purposelessness. It is now full of hope. It is not a suffering unto death. It is a suffering that leads me to the hope and certainty of eternal life. You may have loved ones who are going through great pain and sorrow and suffering. You may have children who have addictions and you are worried to death about them. Worry no more. Lift up your heart in praise to God and say to Him, Father, I thank You that You are present in my sons’ and daughters’ addiction. I praise and thank You that You are working Your grace into their addiction. so that you are ultimately bringing them to the place where they will live forever in your presence, full of joy and gladness, no longer needing some kind of high from a drug. Understand that all the dark valleys that people are going through are under God’s sovereign control, whether they are sickness, cancer, drugs, loneliness, mental ill health, all kinds of things. They are in God’s charge. because God through them is revealing grace. We may not see it, they may not see it even, but it will be revealed to them in the judgment, the final judgment, that God was revealing all of himself through it. And they in the judgment will see that, and they will be so overwhelmed that they will collapse in joy before God and worship. This is what we’re talking about here. The creation of will be delivered. It says, 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. You and I are not worried about global warming. You and I are full of hope in regard to the creation being delivered from the bondage of corruption. We know God’s plan. We are full of joy and confidence about it. When we get gloomy, we lift our hearts in praise for what is to come. And when we see our neighbors or our family or our loved ones troubled with gloom, we let them know what is to come and what all this is leading towards, all this sorrow. It’s not futile anymore, not in the kingdom of God, not in the resurrection of Christ. It is full of purpose. It is leading us towards our eternal home. Well, thanks for joining me today, everyone. This is Colin Cook, and this is how it happens, my broadcast that you can hear any time of the day or night on your smartphone. Simply download a free app, soundcloud.com or podbean.com, and key in how it happens with Colin Cook when you get there. I wonder if you could consider a donation or monthly donations. It would be so helpful. This is listener-supported radio, now, by the way, in its 27th year. Please send your donation to Faith Quest, P.O. Box 366, Littleton, Colorado 80160, or online at faithquestradio.com. That’s faithquestradio.com. See you next time. Thanks so much. Cheerio and God bless.
