What Are We Waiting For?

In Paul's epistle to the church at Rome, he has that marvelous chapter 8 which begins with "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." You might think it doesn't get better than that, but it does. There is, however, an interesting section in that chapter which seems a little ... dark. It begins with "I consider that the sufferings of this present time ..." (Rom 8:18) and many of us are ready to move on. Hang on a minute.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Rom 8:18>

"The glory that is to be revealed to us." Surely that's intriguing. We don't like talk about suffering, but glory isn't so bad, is it? What glory? In the previous verse he was talking about how we are children of God, "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him" (Rom 8:17). Well, there's that suffering thing again, but if we suffer with Him we will be glorified with Him. That is the glory to be revealed to us -- glory given to us with Christ by God.

Paul goes on to say that creation waits with eager longing for this (Rom 8:19). Creation is awaiting its freedom from the bondage to corruption (Rom 8:20-21). What is it waiting for? What's the delay? Whatever it is, "not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly" (Rom 8:23), so it's us as well. Waiting for what? The text says we're waiting for our adoption, but Paul said we already had that (Rom 8:15). So what are we waiting for? It is true that we have the adoption papers signed, so to speak. What we're waiting for is "going home with our new Father," so to speak -- "the redemption of our bodies" (Rom 8:23).

We have been justified. We have been saved. We have been adopted. All these are true. But there is an aspect of "already/not yet" here. We have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. So we await the redemption of our bodies, that moment when we will be once and for all in His presence, completely sin-free, adopted-in-full, sanctified, and glorified. At the turn of the 20th century, Charles Gabriel wrote a hymn that expresses this.

When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Refrain:
Oh, that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

"We ourselves," then, "who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Rom 8:23) And I say, Amen!