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. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. | Romans 8:18–25
Earlier this week, I addressed the question WHY GOD? that is a repeated refrain in the book of Job as well as the Bible at large. This question comes from looking out at a world that does not seem to properly reflect the Creator. It is full of injustice and evil that makes us question why God would design the world the way He did, or allow it to function in this broken state.
The answer is that, while we don’t have all of the details, we know the trajectory of God’s plan of redemption. As Paul states it in Romans 8 (above):
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.
The subjection to futility, the brokenness that we all live in and under, is part of God’s plan to reveal His glory through redeeming the world. This includes the promise that there is a day coming when none of what we currently struggle with will exist. Revelation 21:4 gives us a glimpse of this future hope:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
That sounds really good. The lifting of every weight seems a particular relief when life gets heavy. When everything is going swimmingly, the idea of having to wait for eternity does not seem like a chore. When life is hard, we crave redemption. The question that we ask, much like the Psalmist, is: HOW LONG, O LORD?
This cry is a recognition of how messed up this world is. In this moment, the world did not all of a sudden break. COVID and George Floyd’s death simply revealed selfishness, prejudice, and hatred that were already there. As we dig up hundreds of years of pain and do it all at a social distance, the emotional burden is tremendous. Throw this on top of financial issues, relational stress, and an unclear future, and many are reaching new levels of anxiety.
The cry of HOW LONG, O LORD is the cry of the suffering. We see David crying out as he is being hunted by Saul. We see the people of Israel crying out in captivity. We see Job asking this question as he mourns the loss of everything. HOW LONG, O LORD, is a desire for redemption, but also a recognition that we will not be relieved until God acts to make all things new. Our hope for this final and complete redemption gives us the strength that we need to endure.
This does not mean that we do nothing in the meantime. Part of being a Christian is living out the hope that has been given to us; it is not just a tool for us to endure for our own sake. God often provides relief in this world for people who are at their ends; He does it through the actions of people. We have the chance to be God’s immediate answer to the cry of HOW LONG, O LORD for others, as we long for and speak about the great day to come.