“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 creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” ROMANS 8:19-22
At 1:30 this morning, I was the one groaning – IN PAIN – from a herniated disc! I gave up trying to sleep, crawled out the of bed and slowly made my way to my comfy desk chair. Opening my Bible I landed on “the whole creation has been groaning” but what struck me was “not willingly.”
Way back in Genesis God cursed the ground and all of creation because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve.
And to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” GENESIS 3:17-19
God had created a perfect environment for man; a lush landscape for habitation, trees and plants that produced food, streams for hydration, animals to care for, work that was to be a joy and not a burden. Everything was good, very good and there was no sickness or wilting plants. Adam had only one rule – don’t eat of that ONE tree. He could have eaten from the tree of life! But instead he wanted, she wanted, they chose, to disobey and fall to temptation. A free-will choice that had far reaching and long standing consequences.
Suddenly the ground was cursed, all of creation was cursed – not willingly but because of a choice and it changed everything! From that day on creation began groaning, longing for the day of the Creator’s return and the restoration of all that had been corrupted.
One day all groaning will cease! No more disease, no more death, no more curses. “But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 PETER 3:13
“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” REVELATION 22:3-5
One day, sleep or lack of it will no longer be an issue, pain will cease and we will dwell in God’s glory forever. No More Groaning!