Romans 8:19-23
19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
Why doesn’t God fix the mess we’ve made of the world? I think Paul is suggesting an answer, he is. Rather than dealing with the symptoms, God wants to deal with the cause, us. Once we’re dealt with, once we’re freed from sin, creation will be as well. But that doesn’t get us off the hook of caring for the world – if we are the firstfruits of this renewed creation, then surely should seek to care for it as a foretaste of what is to come.
Spirit, as you do you work of fixing us, help us to fix our relationship with the wonderful world we live in.
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