I was doing some work in Romans and came across a passage I've read often and often liked, namely, Romans 8 where it talks about creation being held in bondage. This time though, I did a bit of research into the Greek and found something really cool. The Greek words used indicate that creation is frustrated because it can't do the job God has for it as fully and wonderfully as it longs to--namely reveal the glory of God. Psalm 19 tells us:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
where their voice is not heard.
So here's what I'm thinking. If the heavens/creation declare God's glory already and they are frustrated because they are not fully doing their job, one can only image what beauty there will be in the new creation. But also I think part of creation's frustration is that it both adds to and detracts from God's glory. It adds in all the beauty but detracts in things like disease and tsunamis. Creation longs for the day when it will only add to God's glory and show it.
1 comment:
That's interesting that seven chapters before, Paul points out that creation is enough to point us to God (I realize I'm way oversimplifying the argument of Romans 1). So if the creation is kept in check and not able to be all that it's intended to be, imagine how much more the renewed creation will reflect the glory of God.
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