These Symptoms are Signs: How the Evil in the World Inspires Present Longing for Future Hope
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:18–30 (CSB)
“What seems to be the problem?” A car mechanic and a doctor alike will listen to a list of symptoms and proceed to diagnose the problem. These symptoms are signs that say, “Something’s not right.” In the same way a body would ache, so too our world groans. Being cursed and corrupted as a result of man’s rebellion, creation is crying out: viral infections, violence, glorification of evil, death, and so on are all symptoms, signs saying, “Something’s not right with this world.”
Through Christ’s blood, God has reconciled all things to Himself, but not in a final sense (Col 1:19–20). Though as Paul explains, He one day will! We, with creation, groan and eagerly wait for that day! If we do indeed have hope in Christ, in His second coming, we persevere with deep longings to live, knowing that this world is not our home.
To ignore symptoms is foolishness; to disregard signs saying “danger!” is recklessness. This virus, one of many aches and pains of a corrupted world, testifies that this world is not home. This virus has crippled routines and threatened sources of security. I wonder if God, in His infinite grace, is revealing the objects of our false worship? I wonder if God, in His great mercy, is reorienting the direction of our wayward hearts? God is always at work, even in this global groan, for his glory and the good of those who love him. He is bidding us to turn our eyes once again to the cross, to set our minds once again on Jesus, to point our gaze once again towards our real home, urging us to set our minds on things above (Col 3:1–4). Our Lord is soon coming. May He in grace help us live like we believe it.
