Romans 8:18–39
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 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. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 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. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This text is just packed with theology and topics that we could discuss here for weeks but I'm going to do my best to limit the scope of this to today's topic.
When we talk about how the COVID-19 crisis has caused us to put things into perspective, this text demonstrates well the perspective we should have.
First, Paul's perspective is one of a cosmic redemption (v. 19-22). The creation is subject to futility as well. Humanity is called to rule creation as God's stewards, but we have forfeited that responsibility by sinning and attempting to rule without God. That has led to creation being bound to corruption and groaning with the pains of childbirth (ie. viruses running rampant among many other disturbances to the idilic creation exemplified in the Garden of Eden). Yet it is not hopeless, the hope of redemption is found in the perfect human—Jesus. He is our hope for redemption, not only ours, but all of creation. Some theologies emphasis one over the other to such a great degree that we miss it's a more glorious both/and redemption.
Verse 28 is the oft quoted passage that all things work together for the good of those who love God and have been called according to his purpose. How can "all things", even something like this pandemic work together for our good? The key is our perspective. When we recognize that God has "predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son" and we hold that value above our comfort and personal prosperity we can accept times like this as formative for our spiritual life.
The story of Joseph is one of spiritual formation through suffering and divine sovereignty in the process. Joseph begins as the favored of his father and a proud young man who doesn't hesitate to share his dreams of his family's subservience to him. He is then sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned by Potiphar's wife, forgotten in prison for years. After all that, he is called to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh and his response to Pharaoh is, "I cannot do it, but God will." Through this time of suffering, this proud young man has been broken and humbled to the point where he can now give glory to God. In the process God was not only saving Joseph from his pride but delivering the family of Jacob and the whole region from starvation. All this led Joseph to declare at the end of the story to his brothers who sold him into slavery, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20)
With proper perspective we can approach even the most challenging times in our lives in the peace and security of knowing that nothing in all of creation "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." This is our secure foundation that allows us to be generous and courageous even in the darkest of times.
In his devotional Skye Jethani shared of Henri Nouwen's recognition that the catcher in a trapeze performance is the one who enables the flyer the safety to let go and fly through the air. He compared this to the security God gives us in his love.
Skye writes, "Faith is the opposite of seeking control; faith is the will to surrender it. Faith is believing the promise that no matter what happens, no matter how dangerous the world may appear, God will not let us fall. With that assurance, we are free to let go, free to soar, free to love others without limit or concern for our safety. And we can do it all with the peace and joy that comes from knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Even as the world panics during this crisis, we are not afraid because we know we can trust the Catcher."
Ask yourself the following questions this week: