Yesterday, Paul (in verse 17) introduced the idea that, as good as life in the Spirit is, we will still experience suffering. Just like Jesus suffered before experiencing God’s glory, so will we. Yet Paul encouraged us by painting a picture of our future glory that is so… well, glorious… that our present sufferings aren’t worth comparing. God is preparing something big: a complete restoration of the whole of creation, in which we are the centrepiece. All of creation is waiting for us to take our place (again) as God’s image-bearers, when our glory is revealed. That’s how mind-blowingly big our future glory will be. So keep focused on that, says Paul, as you endure the sufferings of our in-between existence. It’s a bit like a woman in labour…
The pains of childbirth
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
