Quick Note – Romans 8:18-25 – What Do You Want for Christmas?

Romans 8:18-25 – “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing 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 will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

During the Christmas season, one of the most common questions that are asked is “What would you like for Christmas?”  Parents ask their children this question to find out what present they need to place under the Christmas tree as Santa that year.  Husbands ask their wives this question so that they won’t get in trouble for not buying any gift at all.  Friends ask their friends this question so that they won’t buy a completely useless gift that is either returned or placed in storage.  It’s an important question for the giver to ask to avoid wasting money, but it is also an important question for the receiver to ask him/herself so that he/she can better understand what he/she values.

When I asked myself this question, I came up with a list of material things that ranged from new board games (a hobby that I really enjoy) to a new laptop computer (that doesn’t sound like an airplane that is about to take off the runway).  These were all valid things to want for Christmas and would answer the question asked of me by anyone who might want to buy me a gift, but it made me think of whether this was actually what I was also pursuing in my life.  Was I living my life for the things of this earth – chasing the material rather than the spiritual?  Did I long for my heavenly home and being in the presence of my Lord Jesus Christ, or was I content to live my life here on earth?  These are the questions that I want you to think about today as we look at our passage in Romans 8 today.

In our passage today, Paul begins with a very strong statement by saying “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed…”  At the time, Christians suffered large amounts of persecution for their faith.  Those who were Jewish like Paul were often excommunicated from their families and synagogues.  Those who were Gentiles were likely seen as weird foolish people to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  And soon very many of them would be persecuted to the death by the Roman Empire for not worshipping the emperor.  It was not easy to live as a Christian.  Yet Paul, who suffered beatings, imprisonments, and even stonings, could confidently say that these difficulties were nothing compared to the glory that was coming for being a child of Christ.  How could Paul say this?  Because his hope and his desire were not the things of this earth but the things of Christ.  Instead of looking for the comforts of this life, he looked toward the glory that would come with being adopted as a child of God, the redemption of his body, and the return of Jesus Christ.  He had no problem suffering when his hope was secure in Christ.

But Paul was not the only person that longed for the rule of God, all of creation also looked forward to that day (vs. 19-21).  We are told that creation “longs” for the revealing of the sons of God.  When Adam sinned, the ground was cursed, and the world fell into corruption.  This is the reason why we see all the disasters and troubles that we now have on this earth.  But creation itself, including the animals, the plants, the ground, the sea, the moon, the stars, everything longs for the day when it will be restored to the perfection that made it good in God’s sight in Genesis 1.  This will only happen when Christ returns bringing with him a new heaven and a new earth.  This is why Creation looks forward to that day.

Paul then says that Christians who are filled with the Spirit also “eagerly wait” for that day (vs. 23).  It was this statement in vs. 23 that forced me to consider whether I was also looking forward to that day or if I was content to just live my life in this world.  We as Christians should be anticipating the day when Christ returns – the day when God’s kingdom and rule comes upon this whole earth.  We should not be chasing after the things of this earth but “longing” just as Creation longs for the rule and reign of Christ in our lives.  Throughout Scripture we are told that we need to seek heavenly treasures rather than the things of this earth.  For example, the heroes of faith described in Hebrews 11 constantly looked forward to the promises of God, whether it was Abraham who was looking for “a city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God,” or Moses who chose “rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”  These men and women of faith considered Christ to be greater than all the riches of this earth.  David is mentioned in passing in Hebrews 11, but his desire for God and His rule could be seen in many Psalms that he wrote, of which, Psalm 37 is only one example – “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (vs. 4)  We should be like the Christians before us and who will hopefully come after us – longing to be with Christ.

Matthew 6:19-21 sums up what I want us to think about today – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  What you long for in this life indicates where your heart is.  Are you seeking the things of this earth that are fleeting and passing?  Or are you looking for treasures in heaven, which can never be destroyed and have eternal value?  So as we reflect on what we want this Christmas materially, let us spiritually also eagerly look forward to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and desire His reign in our hearts and lives today.