Reflections from Romans 8
The burden of temporal life is that joy, however great, is always mingled with pain. Even in the most glorious moments, we feel the ache of eternal beings destined for unspoiled holiness, who are presently trapped in bodies and a world cursed by sin.
The most spectacular sunrise over the Grand Canyon, the majestic thunder of Niagara Falls, the monolithic grandeur of Yosemite – all these scenes groan and travail in pain, waiting for redemption from the sin that has corrupted their former glory.
The sweetest display of affection from a child, the most deeply comforting embrace of a friend, even the covenantal promises of a wedding day – all these come with the guarantee of pain to follow as fallen beings will certainly fail to love one another perfectly. We yearn for restoration to the flawless image of Jesus that secures our perfect fellowship with Him, and each other.
The beauty of Christian life is that pain, however deep, is always mingled with joy. Even in the darkest moments of agony, we feel the hope of eternal beings living in a cursed world, who are guaranteed full redemption and restoration.
The searing loss of close relationship is mitigated by the present nearness of Jesus and the promise of eternity with Him. The sting of death is salved by the living hope of Jesus’ resurrection.
Because Jesus is the wounded and victorious Lord of Life, the wounds that Death now inflicts are the flailing jabs of a defeated, dying enemy. One day, Death will gasp its final breath and dissipate into distant past.
We will see Jesus, and He will reveal glory in us. He will free us “from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
And so we wait, believing Him with patient hope.
While we wait, our pain becomes a platform for divine intercession. The Spirit prays for us, the Father works for good in us, and Jesus always loves us. By His love, even the direst of circumstances make us “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
Perhaps the greatest paradox of all is the cross that displayed this love. He did not spare Himself from suffering, our suffering, even death. The most heinous crime of history was the means of redeeming criminals. Jesus’ death was the purchase of life. God suffered the death of His Son. The One Who worked that for good will certainly be faithful to use our pain for good as well.
Though we grieve and groan while awaiting redemption, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Come, Lord Jesus.
Until then, nothing will “separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”