I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 2But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Rom.8:18-25)

As we continue searching through Romans 8, we discover that Paul seems to leap from a discussion of our adoption and inheritance to a reflection on our suffering in this world. If we are to live effectively in this environment we must remember that being children of God and co-heirs with Christ does not make us exempt from hardship, persecution, and even death in this world. Jesus clearly declared, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn.16:33). He also tells us that if the world hated him it will hate us and if the Rabbi suffers, the disciple will suffer as well. Jesus does not keep trouble from our door but enables us to overcome the trouble when it appears. Our standing in heaven supplies what we need for the victory rather than paving the way around every assault of the enemy.

A prosperity gospel tends to promise that we can live above the fray and stay one step ahead of trouble but that is not the witness of Jesus or the apostles. We live in enemy territory and as we push back the lines of the enemy we will be in many battles – for ourselves and for others. Paul knew that better than anyone and had suffered in incredible ways for the gospel. In this section of Romans 8, Paul gives us one secret to enduring the battles of life and continuing to push back against the dominion of darkness. That secret is to get our glorious future fixed in our minds so that the struggles on this earth pale in contrast to what our sustained faith will bring us in eternity.

Paul simply says that our present sufferings are well worth the struggle when we keep the end in mind. There is a glory that is to be revealed in every believer who holds onto his or her faith in Jesus until the end. In one sense everything is about Jesus but in another sense, Jesus has made everything about us.   Paul alludes to the Garden and the moment Gold cursed the earth because of Adams sin. The original earth was built to be eternal and perpetually self-renewing. As Adam and Eve were intended to have eternal life in the Garden, the Garden was intended to be eternal as their perfect residence. But as man became subject to death and decay because of sin, the physical universe fell under the same curse.

Paul tells us that God’s creation waits for the day that God’s children will be revealed and that is the day of resurrection when those he has adopted will be given glorified bodies fit for eternity. Apparently, as we are released from death and decay, the universe will be released as well. But it happens only after God has raised his children. Paul suggests that God is waiting on all of his children to come home before pulling back the curtain on glories we can’t even imagine. We have already been adopted but will not experience the fullness of that adoption until we experience the redemption of our bodies. Paul seems to point at three great events in history – creation, the cross, and the resurrection when God restores both man and his creation to his original intent. Satan beats God out of nothing.

We have already experienced the firstfruits of the Spirit. When we were “born again” our spirits were raised to life and reconnected to our Heavenly Father. At that moment the Spirit began his work of transformation in our body, soul, and spirit making us fit for the kingdom of heaven. I believe that the Spirit touches our bodies even now with strength, health and energy but the capstone on his work will be the resurrection when these bodies will be totally replaced or transformed into glorified bodies suited for eternity and the presence of God – no more sorrow, no more sickness, no more death, no more disabilities, no more weariness, no more separation from those we love.

We are children of the King, resourced by heaven, but in a battle and the battles must be fought. To give up is to lose out. Paul had many chances to turn back but he kept his eyes on Jesus and his mind fixed on the promises of glory and resurrection. His thought was that any suffering in this life was a small inconvenience compared to the amazing things God has prepared for his children so when this life gets so heavy you can hardly carry the load, when the battle gets fierce, when your heart gets weary – call on heaven while you think of the glories to come while the Spirit whispers, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor.2:9) Don’t give up.