Devotion #1: A New World
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Romans 8:18-21
Our natural world today is full of both beauty and corruption. Even creation itself displays characteristics of the sin that entered humanity through Adam. While I tend to be fascinated by natural disasters and their power, the destruction they leave behind is most assuredly an effect of sin in our world today.
Think for a moment about what it must have been like to walk in the Garden of Eden like Adam and Eve. Everything was created by the Word of God in perfection. At the end of each day of creation, as described in Genesis chapter 1, we read, “God saw that it was good.” Just as Adam and Eve were created perfectly and without blemish, so was creation. The majesty of that garden must have been incredible to experience. It really did reflect the glory of its Creator.
Even so, today, many marvelous examples of God’s creation exist. My wife, Jess, and I took a trip to Arizona earlier this year. The sheer magnitude of the canyons there is a sight to behold. The red dust of the desert in Sedona brings an otherworldly sense of awe to a place that is easy to forget is still on Earth. Going to and seeing a place like this drew our attention to how intricately creative yet vastly powerful our God is. His glory is on full display in His creation.
Paul, in Romans 8:18-21, tells us that creation is waiting with “longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” It is the day when Christ will return in all His glory and put an end to sin and death once and for all. The corruption in creation, just like the corruption in humanity, will not last forever.
Christ will return, and when He does, He will return creation to its intended state of perfection in a new Heaven and new Earth. He has a plan to make us new and bring us into His new world. It will be one without blemish from sin. Jesus Himself says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
What an amazing promise this is. Everything is being made new in Him. In a spotless, new creation, we will forever magnify the name of Christ, who saved us from sin and its effects, which ultimately result in death (Romans 6:23).
If creation is marvelous now (and it is), imagine what it will be when everything will again be perfect without the stain of sin. No corruption or suffering we bear now is worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us. That is what we have to look forward to as believers in the body of Christ. This future we look forward to is also the only destination where anyone, or anything, will be at peace with God. Take a moment to thank God for His creation and His promise to make all things new in you. Thank Him that He is still saving people to join us with Him one day in His made-new, perfect creation forever.