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weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning

Psalms 30:5b

Did you know the bible teaches that “the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ” Romans 8:20. Now what does this mean really? It means presently we suffer many frustrations by design, but that design is a design that leads to hope. How does this make sense, frustration leading to hope? God has permitted this state of affairs so as to lead to us to hope, to a true understanding of his love for us, to the true appreciation that his rule is a rule of love, his requirements are not from a malevolent but benevolent heart. You  see “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 freedom and glory of the children of God.”. The source of the frustration is sin that has brought this world under bondage and is leading it ever downward. If God had executed full judgement on the day Adam and Eve sinned this world along with all of us would not be here. Many of the angels and unfallen beings would have concurred that God is a ruthless God. However he chose to respect the choice Adam and Eve made, for the true nature of sin to reveal itself and for all to be satisfied as to Gods inherent righteousness not because he said he is but because he demonstrated it by sending his own Son to die for people who rejected him. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. He is not after his 12 pounds of flesh but really he is after you.

God gave so many tokens of his love to Ahaz in the book of Isaiah. He revealed his faithfulness in history, revealed his knowledge of the present, revealed what was to be, even offered Ahaz an opportunity to request any sign and finally independently sent his own signs to warn Ahaz. All these moves were rejected with those calling themselves by his name rejecting him and choosing other Gods. This is the very nature of sin, it leads this world down an ever darker path. By the time we reach Jesus it says “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” John 1:11. Paul in Romans paints a bleak picture saying “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” Romans 8:23. What more in our day and age.

Here is the good news however. Whenever the Bible brings sad news it always offers good news alongside much greater than the sad news. Adam and Eve may have sinned but as they left the garden the promise of a seed who would crush the devil underfoot was given to them and us. In Isaiah 9:1-7 in light of the recently prophesied obliteration of the Israeli nation God still provides an assurance of brighter, more peaceful days ahead even for the northern kingdom of Israel taken into captivity. Those going into captivity do so with the words of hope that “In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations” Isaiah 9:1. There may be dark days today but brighter days are promised tomorrow. There is a purpose to God allowing the dark days that once established only peace will reign. His promises came to fruition as history would later show. Asyria and other empires would rise and fall but Israel has endured though at times not as a nation in the worlds books.

Even Paul talking about creation groaning in Romans 8, he says it does so in hope, waiting for ‘liberation from its bondage to decay’. He declares that we also “wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. ” Even in the darkest of periods there is hope if we are aligned with God. Though it may seem we will be blotted out of the books of this world, our names will remain branded in the heavenly books, to be called out when we enter eternity.

Read the bible for yourself. There is a greater promise for every dark period mentioned. You see this world is full of news that make the heart sink with fear. Considering the bible reminds us that “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” Psalms 30:5b. No matter how bad things get it reminds us “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” Romans 5:20. Did you know the following was promised as Israel went into Babylonian captivity

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

For today God may permit certain things to come to pass “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:37. He only tarries for us to make the right choice, to choose life and not death. And as we wait he promises to be with us through it all. Yes even though we walk through the valley of shadow of death, you are with me.