Creation Eagerly Waits

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 

Romans 8:19-22 

Christ restores everything. The fall brought ruin to our first parents, humanity, and creation. With the curse of sin came this ruination. As Christ puts it in His conversation with Adam, ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil, you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.’  Christ has come to restore what was lost by the curse. Paul is referring to that restoration in our text. John saw it in his revelation, ‘Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea.’  A few verses later, Christ says, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ This is the transformation for which the creation eagerly waits. We wait for it as well. Humanity cries out for a better world, yet the world is beyond redemption except for what Christ effects. That brings true transformation. This transformation applies to all creation, not merely to the earth. He provides a new heaven and a new earth. This is a glorious eternal prospect. We admit that the world and the heavens are breathtakingly beautiful now. We cannot imagine what they will be like after Christ has made them new. We look forward to the day when the faith shall become sight. Until then, we say with John, ‘Even so, come, Lord Jesus.’  

Our Glorious, Creating God, 
we rejoice in all You have made. 
We praise You that in due course of time, 
You will make it all new. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning