The Glory to Come
Romans 8:18–21 NASB
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly 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 also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
If you asked me what decade I'd love to revisit, I'd probably say the '90s. Maybe it's nostalgia, but life seemed simpler. A single income could often support a family, buy a home, and even afford a vacation. Today, that can feel like a bit of a pipe dream.
We all have a tendency to look for a "golden age."
The Romans did the same thing. Their emperors claimed they had ushered in the greatest era the world had ever known. Their coins, poetry, and propaganda all declared, This is as good as it gets.
But Paul knew better.
He knew that behind Rome's promises were oppression, suffering, and death. He also knew that creation itself is groaning. As beautiful as our world is, it bears the scars of sin. We see it in disease, disasters, injustice, and the brokenness that surrounds us.
Yet instead of pointing us to a better past, Paul points us to a better future:
"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
But what is this glory Paul is talking about?
New Testament scholar and writer, N.T. Wright argues in his book Into the Heart of Romans that glory here has two meanings in the context of Paul’s letter:
First: “it means God’s glorious presence dwelling within us by the spirit.”
Second: it also means “the wise, healing, reconciling rule of God’s people over the whole creation.”
God’s presence and human rule. That is the coming glory.
And all of creation is eagerly waiting for it. The world isn't simply waiting to escape; it's waiting to be renewed. Paul says that one day creation itself "will be set free from its slavery to corruption" as God's children are revealed in glory.
Creation will be set free from decay.
When? When God's children are glorified. When we are resurrected to become the stewards God always intended us to be.
So what does this mean for how we live today?
It means we live with our future calling in mind. We begin practicing now what we will one day do in full. We become good stewards of God's creation by caring for the earth, treating people with dignity, and recognizing that all creation belongs to Him.
Do you remember the WWJD bracelets that were everywhere in the '90s? They reminded us to ask, What would Jesus do?
Maybe we should ask those questions again.
How would Jesus care for the earth He created? How should businesses treat their employees? How should we care for our neighbors, the creatures God has made, and the land we've been entrusted with?
We live into our future calling every time we live with heaven in mind. As followers of Jesus, our future is resurrection—a future where we reign with Christ as faithful stewards over His renewed creation. It's the story of Genesis finally brought to completion.
