Romans 8:18-27 Dealing with Imperfection

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Rom 8:22-23

I’m a big football fan…Arizona Cardinal fan to be exact. For many years they’ve had an uncanny way of making many games over weak opponents, cliffhangers. The Lord has heard plenty of groans from me when the Cardinals have collapsed with a significant lead to barely win a game. Case in point was the recent win over the Green Bay Packers that was won by the Cardinals in overtime. They had a 17 point lead early in the game, the Packers surged ahead of them and they barely squeaked out a victory.

OK, enough football – what does this have to do with today’s passage. Today’s passage looks to the future in a very positive way. But it talks about the present using the word “groaning”. We as believers are groaning, creation itself is groaning and even the Holy Spirit is groaning. Groaning is a result of present imperfections, disappointment in unfulfilled expectations, and from the Holy Spirit’s viewpoint sharing in our disappointment. I groan over a football game when a good team makes mistakes that gets them defeated…when the team does not live up to who they are. Groaning is knowing all the good things that have transpired since being justified by faith and yet experiencing flaws and imperfections.

When reading through Romans 6, 7 and 8, I am impressed with my flaws and failures in light of who I would expect to be based on the teaching. Paul, probably recognized that a believer could have very frustrating expectations of perfection after reading about the changes that have transpired in the one who has been justified. Here he acknowledges that perfection is future. Even our adoption as sons is not fully realized and perfected until the future. Though our expectations in the present are somewhat tempered by the fallen world we are part of, our expectations and hope in the future are for perfection.

Thank you Lord for your understanding and mercy and for the future that we as believers look forward to! Thank you that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”!!!!