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Romans 8:19-22
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in Genesis 3, it was not only them that received the consequences of the disobedience to God but also the earth. Genesis 3:17-18 (HCSB) declares, “And He said to Adam, ‘Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.’” It is because of this that Paul states in Romans 8:19 (NKJV), “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” When the fulfilling of our striving to please God in this world is revealed, God will also heal the earth to its right state. Until then there is a “groaning” in anticipation to be healed, just as we anticipate our new bodies in Christ Romans 8:22.
This is a promise that the earth will also be healed to its right state with God when all is revealed.
It is not only those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus that long for their eternal destination of being transformed into a right state with God, but all of creation longs with us to be returned to a right state with God where there will be no more decay as we see in nature each fall season as the trees and grasses decay. But each spring we see new life as we are reminded of our new lives in Christ to a renewing of life that will one day be life eternal – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
Because of sin, You have given us signs in nature of the death that reigns in this earthly world, but You have also given us signs of life each spring season to remind us of Your longing to renew each one of us in a new life eternal in Christ Jesus. Please open our eyes, hearts, minds, and souls to life eternal in Christ Jesus that we may live in the righteousness that You have provided for us through His life, death, and resurrection. In Jesus name I pray, amen.