ODJ: Creation Restoration

November 12, 2018 

READ: Romans 8:18-23 

With eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay (vv.20-21).

Not long ago, scientists believed that the effects of trauma and stress affected only the generation that had experienced their effects. But recent research indicates that children are also affected by their parents’ trauma: the impact of such events passed down to future generations. So exactly how far in the future can the effects of trauma be felt?

Like those scientists from years past, we can sometimes view the first sins of humanity as something that happened only in the past. But Scripture tells us that the first sin has impacted every person since (Romans 5:12). Not only that, the consequences of humanity’s fall into sin extend much further: all of creation is affected by our sin and “has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22).

But creation shares not only in humanity’s bondage, but also in the hope we have in Jesus. His work has had an even more profound impact. He’s conquered the effects of sin and is bringing healing to all creation (Colossians 1:20). His power and love are undoing the trauma of sin through the generations. All of creation waits and hopes eagerly for “the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay” (Romans 8:21). When imagining creation longing for restoration in Jesus, one can’t help but think of the picture He paints in Luke 19:40 of the rocks crying out in worship, even bursting into cheers.

Although the bondage of sin is so profound and weighty that all of creation suffers from it, we must not lose sight of the amazing hope we have in Jesus. This hope isn’t simply for humanity, but for all of creation. Praise God for a “future day” of restoration! (Romans 8:19).

—Peter Chin

365-day plan: Acts 22:30-23:22