Romans 8:23 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.
We all love to have a good moan from time to time. Mine are usually based round the topic: “It’s not fair!”
Once again life will have dealt me a blow I didn’t deserve. It might be my battle with Samsung to fix my handset, which has been rendered inoperative by their update! Or it might be the way that others just don’t seem to always agree I’m right. Or it could be a nasty case of man flu. “It’s not fair!”
Actually it’s a very good thing that the world is not fair. We might feel that we should get what we deserve. But it’s very good news that we don’t. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned. Romans 6:23 tells us the wages of sin is death. We deserve God’s immediate punishment.
But we don’t live in a world where God gives us our just deserts. He delays his just judgement upon our rejection of His rule and His love. That’s why moaning is always out of place. Whatever I experience in this world is far better than what I deserve.
Groaning is a good however…
Rather than a world of just deserts, we live in a world of curse and grace. The world is fallen. It no longer works perfectly. This isn’t just seen in the way people sin against each other. It is seen also in the way God has cursed creation itself. It is subjected to frustration. So we have sickness and slavery; Tsunami and the Samsung customer services department.
Yet in his love God… causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45). There is a grace that is common to all people however they respond to him. Then there is his specific grace towards his people. They are brought into his family through His Son the Lord Jesus and promised a future with him in the New Creation free from sin and curse.
Therefore Christians groan. Longing for the day when the suffering will be over. Aching for the moment when we will see Jesus face to face. Crying out for the day when there will be justice for all. We groan not just for ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters across the world who suffer in Christ’s name.
So stop moaning and start groaning!