Living the Journey

“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” -Romans 8:23

I’m going to take a wild guess and say that each one of you, at some time in your life, has had to wait for something that you really wanted. Was it hard? Did you find yourself getting impatient? Throughout Romans 8 we read that all around us God’s creation is waiting for the glorious future that He has perfectly planned. But this waiting is not only around us…it is also very much within. Verse 23 makes it clear that we as Christians are to be waiting eagerly for the redemption of our bodies!

So what is redemption? Well, my handy-dandy dictionary says it is: Deliverance upon payment of ransom; Rescue; and Salvation from sin through Jesus’ sacrifice. Okay, that sounds great, but Jesus already sacrificed Himself by dying on the cross…why wait for something that already happened, right? Good question!

When someone receives Jesus as their personal Savior, does their physical body change? No, but their spirit does! And what is it that this verse says we are waiting for? “The redemption of our bodies”!

From the words used in this verse I don’t get the impression that this is just nonchalant or passive waiting; it sounds more like painfully-great anticipation to me. What’s the big hurry? How do we know that what we’re waiting for is all that fabulous? Well, I’d say it has something to do with “the firstfruits of the Spirit”! In the Amplified version it reads “…who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come]…”.

Galatians 4:5-7 says, “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts…Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” That sounds pretty exciting to me!

So, as sons and daughters of God, He has given us a glimpse of what we have to look forward to. We have hope! Matthew Henry’s Commentary puts it this way. “Our having received the first-fruits of the Spirit, quickens our desires, encourages our hopes, and raises our expectations”. We are going from servants to sons and daughters of the King!

Our Father in Heaven has given us many blessings here on earth, that’s for sure. And, to those who will receive His salvation/redemption, He also promises an eternity in His presence (where there is fullness of Joy). Let’s not waste this time of waiting by being inactive or idle, but instead, look for ways to remain ready and available for God’s use!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” – Titus 2:13-14

~Olivia

1 Comment »

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”-Romans 8:22

Friday February 29, 2008, 9:05 a.m. my brother Stephen calls me in the office. Immediately I remember the last time he called me, which was a year earlier, when the house caught on fire and the whole house had to be gutted and rebuilt. As he talked I felt like I was in a dream could this really be possible. Everything else around me lost significance. It did not matter that the press was waiting for plates. That there was a technician waiting for me to setup a new type of plate. Or that Mr. O was telling me I needed to get some stuff done.

As Stephen related to me the night before mom and dad had been at a Bible study and dad had started passing out whenever he tried to stand up. They finally decided to call an ambulance and as dad was on the way to the hospital his heart rate got down to six beats per minute. He made it through the night but the doctor told him you know you could have died last night. They had also put a temporary pacemaker in just in case his heart stopped beating to keep it going.

My immediate response was to find a flight that would get me to Washington as soon as possible. The first flight I looked at left the next day and returned on Tuesday. It was for $230 Which is very low even when looking way in advance. I thought well what about leaving today or the day after. In both cases the flight cost went up to $400-$500.

Four days later I was back in Chicago having traveled to Washington and back. The nurse who released dad on Sunday said you are the fourth and most alive person who left intensive care in the last two years. Then dad went and beat me at ping pong. It was the best birthday present ever to have Dad home.

Since that time God has seen fit to take dad and our family through cancer. And this December he had a lung removed and then shingles on top of it. But through all these trials we have seen God faithful. He is good all the time.

All around us is suffering, pain, injustice, sickness, disease, broken relationships and death. This anguish started not at creation but the fall in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. What a joy to look forward to in heaven where there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain. James talks about how the trial of our faith fashions in us patience. John 15 Jesus says, “that those who bear fruit he will prune that they may bring more fruit.” 1 Peter tells us, “that the trial of our faith is much more precious than gold.”

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

~Barak

3 Comments »

“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”- Romans 8:21

Who are we? Creatures. To put it nicely, we, apart from Christ, are everything that is unlovely. We are stained with sin, lies, hatred, immorality, idolatry (to name a few) and therefore condemned to eternal death in Hell. If it had not been for Christ we would have remained in this state! However, praise be to our Father in Heaven who sent His Son to die on a cross so that we can be set free, released from condemnation, and live a new life in Him transformed into His child, exchanging the chains of bondage for a robe of righteousness in Jesus Christ!

What is bondage? Habit. Addiction. Darkness. Dependance. Slavery. Have you ever felt tormented by a certain habit that you knew did not glorify God? Maybe you are in one right now. Maybe you even hate yourself for this. Maybe you are experiencing and entertaining thoughts of evil deeds, desires and deceptions. How about Addiction? It seems as if you are surrounded by the walls of a prison built by one small compromise after another until you cannot even see the light of a way out. You are trapped. Hopeless.

Dependance. Maybe on material items such as clothes, music, entertainment, video games, computer, hobbies, friends, peer approval rather than busy cultivating the fruits of the Spirit and living a disciplined life! Darkness. We live in a dark age. We are surrounded by darkness. It is everywhere and in everything, it is in the church, it is in your friends, it is even in yourself. However we (as in those who are saved), are children of the light! He, who is the Light, (and dwells in us) has no pleasure with and cannot dwell in darkness. Do you enjoy images, secrets and actions of the world? Do your role models in society mirror their life after Christ? What about your friends? Do they inspire you in your walk with Him or do they cause you to compromise? On a personal note, the times in my life that I look back on with the greatest remorse was spent with my “closest friends” always in secret. Always miserable afterward. Why do we grieve the Spirit of the Lord? Why do we force Him to behold our evil deeds? Why do we pleasure in the things HE died a gruesome and painful death for?

Slavery. The god of this world will do his best to restore your chains and fill you with a heart of condemnation rendering you useless for the Kingdom of God! FLEE!!!Run from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life! Run into the arms of your waiting Savior who wants to set you completely free! Circumcise your heart! Cut off the evil and the old man and put on the new! Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is peace and where there is peace there is liberty! He desires a relationship with you that you cannot possibly imagine! Experience the freedom of a clear conscience, of getting under Godly authority, of living according to the principles of God’s Word and be blessed and free as you seek Him and His Kingdom first! He will be found of you and I promise you, your heart could not imagine the ways He will reveal Himself to you and take you to new heights in your relationship with Him in this new year! That is my challenge to you!

-Liz Baldwin

Leave a Comment »

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope.” – Romans 8:20

My head spun with questions when I read this verse. What does “the creature” refer to? everything that God created or only the plants and animals? What in the world does “made subject to vanity” mean? and when did that happen? What “hope” is it talking about? Though questions abounded, one thing was sure: because this verse was written, it has a purpose, and I wanted to know what that purposes was!

As I took the time to explore the verse, most of the initial questions were answered through investigation of each word in the Greek and by digging up cross-references elsewhere in Scripture.

I found that “the creature” referred to here speaks of all creation below the level of mankind: the plant, animal, and mineral kingdoms that extend from the celestial bodies of the cosmos to the infinitesimal elements of the microcosmos. It follows that all of this creation was subjected to natural deterioration, utter “uselessness” or natural occurrences pertaining to destruction and death. Volcanic eruptions, species-specific extinction, earthquakes, famine and drought all speak of a world subject to “vanity“. Though the Bible does not specifically say when this all began, it seems most logical that it started with the curse in the Garden of Eden and was amplified with the passing of time as seen in the accounts of Noah, Peleg, and the prophesies of the coming apocalypse.

With all this in mind, is becomes clear why the promise of “hope” is integral to this verse. Hope in the midst of suffering runs like a bolt of heart-penetrating energy through verses 18 to 26. If the God-created, curse-subjected, spiritless atoms, animals, and planets hope for a future without the curse, how infinitely more do the very children of God hope for a future of both physical and spiritual completeness in Christ wherein they might embracing the excellence and perfection of His divine nature!

Hope in this glorious resurrection and banishment of mortal degradation is our help in suffering–suffering due to our own sin; suffering due to the sin of others; spiritual suffering of depression, broken relationships, acute disappointment, and separation from God; physical suffering of illness, aging, and the general laws of the universe. The same God Who punishes sin forgives sin, that despite sin there might be respite through hope.
- James

Leave a Comment »

“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”

~ Romans 8:19

More frequently, I have found myself thinking a great deal about the unsaved that are around me. It’s incredibly thought provoking really, and weighs heavily on my spirit to realize how many people don’t know my magnificent Savior! They have nothing to live for. They go about their daily routines, working, eating, sleeping. Seeking fulfillment in people, fashions, activities, false religions, drugs, food, social standing, etc. Knowing, inherently, that they were put on this earth for a reason – the question, “Why am I here?”, is incessantly burning at the back of their minds.

You look at the key in your hand. This moment is surreal. 19 years, 12 grades, and quite a few bad attitudes later you’re finally out of the house, harnessing a part-time job, living in your own apartment, and about to begin your first semester of college. “This is when my life finally begins!” you confidently  think to yourself. Granted, you are in an enormously depressing amount of debt from all of your recent living changes and educational pursuits; but, you’ll worry about that later. Besides, everyone else you know has done the same thing. Back to your life – no more days of feeling empty and unfulfilled, mechanically filling your free time with mindless television watching and video games. No more strained arguments with your parents – “Perhaps being the firstborn son has something to do with it” you reassure yourself. No more. YOU are number one now.

It’s your second week of college, and you’ve been positively swamped with all the assignments and classes (not to mention your part time job you’re working at nights). You’ve been able to meet a good majority of your classmates. A lot of them have really strange ideas, and are into the new age-y type religions. Some are quite adamant atheists. There are also people like you – not wholly ruling the possibility of other beings and universes out of the picture. You don’t like the idea of having to be accountable to anyone; however, you cannot get free from the feeling that you were put here for a purpose, and it wasn’t just to wander around willy-nilly.  In the last category are a small handful of people like Alton. This guy is unlike anyone that you’ve ever met. Some of your fellow colleagues have told you several different things about him: 1) he worked really hard to save enough money to pay for college, so he wouldn’t have to go into debt; 2) he has a lot of, what was the word they used? Oh yes, convictions; 3) apparently, his relationship with his family is so close, that any weekend he’s able to he’ll drive back to his home just to spend time with them; and fourthly, he’s a Christian.

It’s Christmas break. On your list of accomplishments thus far: your already strained relationship with your parents has dwindled down to the last proverbial straws; that part time job you had? Doesn’t exist; your landlord is on the verge of kicking you out – with no income, how are you supposed to come up with the rent amount? When you take a step back, look at the picture your life has become, the only faint spark of happiness is that you’ve somehow managed to barely hold your head above water on your classes. That’s the only thing to live for now – if you didn’t have college, what would be the point? You really are at your wit’s end. “Why am I here?” continually pounds in your head.

You go out to take a walk. The song that’s playing outside of a shop seems to mock you as you walk past, “I’ll be Home for Christmas”. You find that you truly would like to have a good relationship with your parents and two younger siblings. If only you knew how – going home certainly wouldn’t help the matter.

You hear someone saying your name. A hand is on your shoulder. You turn around – Alton? But surely he would be home with his family. He relates how his flight was canceled due to bad weather – so, he was doing a little extra Christmas shopping. He inquires as to why you’re not with your family – you tell him how it is. He is sorry with you. You are struck by the light that is in his eyes – yours certainly do not posses that. Alton has tried to talk to you about his faith before, but, you didn’t want to hear about it; nevertheless, you find yourself asking him about it. He clearly has something that you’ve never found. As soon as the questions were out of your mouth, the joyful look in his eyes only brightened. He begins to tell you a story – God sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth in the simple form of a baby, to save mankind from their sin. He explains that, since God is just, a sacrifice was needed to pay for our sin – Jesus was the atonement for us. He was nailed to a cross – the cruelest, most lowly death the Romans had – He died, and was laid in a tomb; but, the third day He was in there, He rose again! And now He’s in heaven. But, before Jesus ascended, He told His disciples that He would come again – His second coming. This world will be destroyed, and we will either spend eternity with the Lord, or forever be tormented in Hell, separated from God’s love. Because God didn’t want humans to be just a bunch of robots that mechanically loved Him from day one, He gave us our own wills – we can choose to accept His free gift of salvation. And if we don’t, we are choosing eternal condemnation. When you ask Jesus to come into your heart – to make you clean from your sins – you’re just overwhelmed with the depth of His love, Alton shares. You no longer want to live life in sin, following one vain pursuit after the other – there is no fulfillment in life apart from Christ. You love God so much, that you want to do things that will honor and please Him  - and He honors those who honor Him. Alton explains that, because he knows Christ is coming again, he has hope – something to anticipate with eagerness. Even though the christian life is not easy, you can still have joy in your heart, because you know without a doubt that Christ will come again, and you will spend eternity with your Savior.

You had never heard that before. You see the light in Alton’s face – the joy in his spirit. You view with detest the emptiness in your life – you feel the void in your heart. Suddenly, you are overwhelmed with the realization that Someone died for you – for your mistakes, your failures – so that you would not have to suffer the eternal consequences of your sinful ways. With tears running down your face, you tell Alton that you want Jesus. He has tears as well – he gets to his knees, beside the bench that you’ve been sitting on. You do the same. He offers a simple, yet sincerely heart-felt prayer of praise to the Lord. You’re about to speak; but, you feel like there’s a shadow that’s trying to surround you – thoughts immediately start to bombard you: “You’ll never be able to have any fun after this”, “Get off your knees, and get away from this guy!”, “Don’t do it!”. “No!”, you yell at them – you want this darkness to be gone, you want – you need- the Light so desperately! You begin to pray. You feel the darkness flee – the Light has filled you! Now, you too, posses the hope of His glorious appearing – and what joy it gives you!

Just think, what a gift we have – the hope of His coming: the manifestation of the sons of God!

I like details and Greek (if you knew my dad, you’d know where I inherited it from =); so, grab your trusty burgundy Zodhiates Bible and let’s go a little deeper into this verse!

We find that the Greek word for “earnest expectation” is Apokaradokia, meaning, “Attentive or earnest expectation or looking for, as with the neck stretched out and the head  thrust forward.”

We [the creatures] posses not only an expectation, but it’s an earnest expectation. So, a typical expectation – you know (and are expecting) the post to arrive sometime time today, most likely consisting of an entree of catalogs/ads/what-not, a side  of bills, with one or two personal letters for dessert. Now, an earnest expectation is, knowing (not which day, exactly) and quite earnestly expecting … A letter from the Queen of England (because you wrote her a very happy birthday card and congratulatory note for her grandson’s recent marriage)! There is a rather marked distinction, my good people. =)

Next, we have, “waiteth for” – Apekdechomai, meaning, “To wait for, used as a suitable expression for Christian hope including the two elements of hope and patience.” I am frequently reminded that, patience is a virtue, and indeed it is; however, in this instance, I think that we, as the Bride of Christ, should be so in love and anxious for the day that He will return to claim us as His own, that we are bubbling over with an “impatient” anticipation for His coming!

“The manifestation” – Apokalupsis; “revelation, uncovering, unveiling, disclosure. One of the three words referring to the Second Coming of Christ.”

“Sons of God” – Huios; “…The difference between believers as children (tekna) and as sons (huioi)…tekna refers to those who were born of God and huioi refers to those who show maturity acting as sons. Huios gives evidence of the dignity of one’s relationship and likeness to God’s character.”

May we all live with an earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God!

God bless you all as you hide His Word in your heart!

He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Ta-ta,

~Sophia

2 Comments »

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be comparedwith the glory which shall be revealed in us.” -Romans 8:18

He stands among a crowd of admirers with photographers snapping pictures in rapid succession.  In just a few minutes he will receive the reward for which he strove these many years.  Thoughts flood his mind, sending him back to this very day two years earlier…

“The runners lined up.  The gun went off.  Reflexively, each one launched himself into the task at hand.  With every ounce of strength they could muster the runners strained with every stride.  The pain began; slight at first, but increased rapidly.  The intense heat seemed to zap strength from even the strongest.  Only the top five competitors would qualify.  One by one the runners slowed.  A few dropped from utter exhaustion.  With adversities pressing upon him it seemed the disappointment would befall him also.”

Suffering – it’s not the most soothing thought to ponder.  Most people would rather avoid lengthy discourses on the subject because of the emotional picture it creates: grief, pain, and wounds.  We ask the question: “Is there any other way to view suffering?”

In Scripture there are numerous references to Christ’s own sufferings.  Isaiah 53 is the most familiar passage on this topic, but we also have His own words. Mark 8:31 -“And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

Jesus furthermore spoke of the sufferings believers will endure because of faith in Him.  Luke 21:12 says – “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.”  Paul sums this concept up in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” for their faith.  This is a hard pill for our flesh to swallow because we, as humans, do not like to be rejected by others.

But wait! Romans 8:18 doesn’t end with suffering.  Look at it again. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  There is a reward after it is all finished!!  Numerous verses confirm this fact.

Acts 5:41- “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  The word joy in this passage means delight, gladness, exceeding joyful.  It is the same word used in Matthew 2:10 to describe the wise men’s joy at seeing the star.

1 Peter 4:13 – “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”  This joy literally means to jump for joy.  Can you picture it!!

“And then, just when it appeared that his last ounce of strength was spent, a glimpse of something caught his eye.  Seconds later the picture was clear.  It was the finish ribbon, pulled taut.  A rush of energy and thrill of joy flooded the runner’s body.  Nothing would stop him now.  Running like never before, he closed the gap between himself and the finish line.  A few remaining steps and he felt the ribbon tighten against his chest.  One more step and it snapped – fluttering into the breeze.  The runner, exhausted, collapsed into his coach’s embrace and heard the words, “You have made the Olympic Team!”

…A hush over the crowd brings him back into the present.  Honors are being given to his fellow athletes. Then silence, as he, himself, bows his head and the gold medal is placed around his neck.  He pauses for a moment, and then stands erect, bearing the prize of a race well run. The crowd erupts into a thunderous applause.   

My friends, let us steadily run and faithfully endure the sufferings for His name sake, and so receive that crown of glory which shall not fade away.

~Laura B.

1 Comment »