The Whole Earth Groans
By Susan Klein
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time.”
Romans 8:22
Open up any newspaper or listen to any news broadcast today and you will hear reports of natural disasters around the globe. Devastating hurricanes, tornadoes in the middle of winter, raging forest fires, severe flooding, earthquakes in Italy...the list is endless. According to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, its data shows a hugely significant rise in the frequency of these events over the past hundred years. By Susan Klein
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time.”
Romans 8:22
Scientists and politicians believe that our careless use of the earth and its elements have caused a global warming, or greenhouse effect, on our atmosphere, largely responsible for the rise in natural catastrophes. They also believe that we can reduce these occurrences and restore the earth by how we care for it. Can we really repair the earth?
Let’s go back to Genesis, chapter three. After Adam and Eve sinned, God said the consequences would be much groaning! Woman would groan with pain in childbirth, man would groan in his toiling of the land, and even the ground would groan, producing thorns and thistles as God himself had cursed it. A ground that is divinely cursed will likely worsen with time, not regenerate!
So, do we sit back and do nothing? Absolutely not! We are called to be good stewards of everything God has given us. He entrusted the earth to us to care for it to the best of our ability. But can we completely stop the earth’s groaning? Not if it’s divine in nature. So, where is the hope? In Romans 8, Paul talks about a future glory when he says “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” It goes on to say that we (believers) also groan inwardly as we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies. Because of sin, everything and everyone faces decay. But, we have hope! Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross and has promised we will one day have new resurrected bodies and a new heaven and earth. Then, and only then, will the groaning cease.
While Earth Day is being globally acknowledged today, let’s take some time to acknowledge the Creator of our earth!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What can you do to show God your thankfulness for His creation?
FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:18-25; 2 Peter 3:10-13
Susan is a wife and mother of two. She leads a small group and teaches for Tuesday a.m. Bible Study.
