Creation Groans

In this coming Sunday's second lesson from Romans, St. Paul talks about creation in relation to humanity. He writes, "the creation waits with eager longing fro the revealing of the children of God...for the creation was subjected to futility...by the will of the one that subjected it." Translation--we have caused creation to go off the tracks with sinful selfishness, and it can no longer reach its completion and perfection. This derailment of creation will be reversed though--and it is tied to our redemption and reorientation to God.

Creation groans now, eagerly longing for the birth of re-creation--as do we, as already redeemed, but not yet in the kingdom. Birth isn't an easy activity (or so I'm told). It requires work. But it comes of its own accord.

Re-creation will come of its own accord as well. And yet it is benefited by our cooperation and participation. re-creation is also hard work. We must change our shortsighted ways that deplete the earth instead of build it up. Our sinfulness in this area trickles down to affect the natural world, of which we are a part. That's hard to remedy--it takes perseverance and diligence. Our repentance and changed behavior do help hasten the kingdom along.

So....PUSH!