For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing 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 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. | Romans 8.18-22
We saw Sunday that ever since sin entered the world and tainted God’s perfect creation, things have been difficult. Jesus prophecy toward then end confirms that it isn’t going to get better on its own. Life isn’t going to be the fulfilling, peaceful existence that we all desire and KNOW is possible. The more you try to make it happen, the more you will find despair.
Jesus does not promise an easy life (as a matter of fact, for His disciples He promises the opposite), but He gives us an end to our story. By revealing the last chapter, He helps us as we navigate all that exists in between. He encourages us:
DO NOT BE OVERWHELMED | the presence of chaos does not mean God is not in control. The fact that an end exists means He knows how we are all going to get there. So in the midst of things we have no answer for, we can have hope, trusting that God is at work.
DO NOT GET COMFORTABLE | this hope should not lead us to complacency. We may not be able to have our best life now, but that does not mean that our job is to be okay with things as they are. As those who have the last chapter in hand, we have the opportunity to bring hope into a world of hopelessness.
DO NOT GIVE UP | bringing hope to the hopeless is not always celebrated. Many still want to find their meaning in the pages before the end. The offer of a glorious end will not only be rejected, but will seem to be a threat. As they respond with hatred, disregard, or even persecution, it is easy to simply want to pull away and live silently in the corner. It all begins to seem pointless. This is when we need to be reminded of the end:
In the end, Jesus comes to free His people from all of the destructive realities of sin and to remake the world in its original glory. All that has been done will be redeemed! All glory will be aimed toward God and then shared with His creation.
This is what allows us to keep going when the going gets tough. It isn’t because we believe we can change the world or reach perfection; it is the simple fact that we are unified with the God who will. We can live in a world of chaos because we know that peace is coming.