For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:18-23)
Paul knew a thing or two about suffering. When we witness to people we get upset that they ignore us, when Paul witnessed to people, they tried to kill him (e.g. Acts 14). You could say Paul lost everything for Jesus, but he did not think his losses were worth even comparing to the rewards. Paul imagines all the creatures of our world waiting for the time when we will be restored and this world will be restored with us. Because all creation is suffering under the curse because of us from the fall to this day, but creation will be restored when we are restored. When we were cursed with mortality, animals were also cursed with us, and when we are given immortality, so will the animals. I do not know whether the animals we know today will personally be in the new Earth, but I see no reason that they should not be.
It is not just animals that suffer under creation, but our own physical bodies. Especially as we grow old we begin to feel the effects of the curse, and we look forward to the time when our bodies will be perfect forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment