Rom 8:18-25 Is it Worth It ?

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.

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Let’s dive in:

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.

“for” referring to the suffering he speaks about in the previous verse 17  “suffer with Him…” 

Rom. 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

this does not mean that suffering with Christ makes us heirs with Him,

it means that suffering with Christ proves we are heirs with Him.

Anticipating the next question : is the suffering worth it ?

He says, in verse 18, that suffering with Christ, as a co-heir with Him, is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. (it’s not even in the same ballpark to consider)

(“sleeping in a dusty room for one night and inherit 1,000,000 dollars” 

and some one asks you “is it worth it?”)

He says that all the suffering experienced now with Christ is incomparable to the hope of seeing His glory
(not even , as he points out in verse 17 that we will be glorified with Him)

Just to see His glory is incomparable to this brief suffering (putting aside our being glorified ourselves

1 John 3:2 

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

(we become glorified by seeing Him glorified)

1 Pet. 4

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

15 Make sure that one of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

2 Cor 4:17

for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all

2 Tim 3:12

in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

Phil 3:10

I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death

Luke 14:27

and whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple

I wonder that God take take someone like me and empower me to be courageous in the face of persecution
(I am the same person who is afraid to put a “Trump 2020” sign on my front lawn for fear of someone throwing a rock though my window)  and yet I know, that if I entrust myself to the leading of His Spirit, He can lead me into martyrdom for His glory.

what can give that kind of courage ?

Hope

(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.

638   [603]   ἀποκαραδοκία, apokaradokia, n.  [608 + 3191 + 1506]. earnest expectation

This phrase “anxious longing” can also be translated “eager expectation” is only found in one other place in the bible … Phil 1:20

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

this is a “coined word” from Paul

ἀπο = to turn away from or against (other interests)

καρα = head

δοκία = think or consider, regard

turning away ones head (mind and thoughts) from one thing, in order to be able to regard something else

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.

what is futility (that all creation has be subjected to )?

futility

3470   [3153]   ματαιότης, mataiotēs, n.  [3469]. emptiness, futility, frustration

(a meaningless pursuit)

Eccl 1:2   vanity of vanity

1:3 vanity of work of hands

1:13 vanity of wisdom

2:1 vanity of pleasure

2:4 vanity of building great works and construction

2:7 vanity of many slaves

2:8-9 vanity of material possessions

2:10 vanity of everything (all possessions, all pleasures)

in chapter 3, Solomon explains that each of these may have a season to come and go, but pursued by themselves are futile, yet, when ordained by God, have a purpose to serve in His timing

Ecclesiastes 1:2 The Hebrew term hebel, translated vanity or vain, refers concretely to a “mist,” “vapor,” or “mere breath,” and metaphorically to something that is fleeting or elusive (with different nuances depending on the context). It appears five times in this verse and in 29 other verses in Ecclesiastes

pursuing happiness as a purpose is vanity of vanity (meaningless pursuit)

but pursuing purpose within God’s timing, is the opposite of vanity and also brings joy (happiness) as a result

pursue happiness as a purpose and get neither happiness nor purpose

pursue purpose and get happiness as a perk as you discover purpose

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

remember this was written before sonograms and 3-D ultrasounds

(the child, which could not be seen, was detectable and predictable , but not actually seen until after the suffering of child birth)   the redemption of our body is coming but not here yet  (we havent seen it but we know its coming

24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

I dont look forward to a shiny new car if I’m already driving a shiny new car

(I look forward to something I dont currently have)

and that is a factor to now bring out about the word “hope”

our culture says “I hope to someday to do this or that, to have this or that”

speaking of wishing for something uncertain in the future.

This is not the biblical meaning of the word hope.

Hope means to look forward to a fulfilled promise.

If my wife promises to feed me beef stew monday night after work,

I could say “I hope for beef stew monday night … it’s going to be delicious !”

when we see people out there who want to get drunk or high … why ?

(they are frustrated by the futility that the creation is subjected to)

they have gotten a small taste of solomons vanity of life without God

and seeking to achieve happiness through distraction

We should pity them, want to describe to them how to find purpose

(not judge them or get angry at them)

this is the human soul battling with the despair that comes from seeing the empty frustration that is life without God given purpose

we have knowledge of this purpose

it gives purpose for our lives

purpose for our joy

purpose for our suffering 

we will one day receive our glorification in His presence 

and all our sufferings will be nothing in comparison

we will be rewarded for turning our focus away from whatever would have distracted us 

and for focusing on His glory even when we cannot see it at this time.

If we truly apokaradokia, then we should be focusing on the glory to come and not potential persecution now for trying to share the gospel.

 

Yet we fail. We take the road of the coward, the selfish coward, who says “the embarrassment I may face is too much to outweigh what I claim is my God appointed mission; to share His truth.”

 

Our focus is not on His glory, we have turned out heads back to this temporary suffering and convinced ourselves that it is more real and more important.

 

Let us be different. Let us prove we “apokaradokia” (have eager anticipation) towards a certain promise from Him.