0613. The Expectant Hope

The Expectant Hope

"For the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God * * 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. For we are saved by hope" (Rom_8:19-24).

1. The Second Coming of Christ is the expectant hope of the creation. The physical creation was made subject to vanity, but not willingly. It fell under the curse, because of the sin of Adam. We read, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; * * thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee." For six thousand years, since Adam’s sin, the earth has been under the curse, the whole creation has been groaning and travailing in pain together until now.

The earth, however, has been subjected in hope of a better day. The physical creation shall be delivered from its bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. This shall surely be accomplished at the coming of the Lord, when the saints are glorified. When Christ shall reign, then, "instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar, the myrtle; then, every "mountain will be made low, and every valley will be exalted;" then, "the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall bloom and blossom as the rose;" then, "the lion will eat straw like an ox, and the wolf also will dwell with the lamb;" then, "the plowman will overtake the reaper, and the mountains will drop with sweet wine."

2. The Second Coming of Christ is the expectation of the children of God. We ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for our adoption, to wit the redemption of our body.

Believers have been saved; believers are being saved and believers will be saved. It is this future salvation that is our expectant hope. We who have felt the power of God, as manifested in our salvation from sin, when we first came to Christ; we who have felt the power of God, in His marvelous keeping grace, as we daily serve Him; we shall yet know the power of God in the redemption of our bodies.

When Christ comes again, He comes apart from sin unto salvation. This salvation, which completes the work of the Cross, and brings to us our new bodies, is our earnest expectation.

We are looking for the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, Who shall change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto the body of His glory. We shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye; we shall see Him, and we shall be like Him. This is our expectant hope.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR