I wish it were my line, but it isn’t . . . it’s someone else’s . . . but it’s good . . . “Nature’s music is in the minor key” (William MacDonald). Okay, so doesn’t that present a picture . . . or at least a sound? The wonder of God’s creation is singing . . . the beauty of a melody is present . . . but, in comparison to what it will one day be, it is more of a dirge or a lament than it is a triumphant symphony of celebration. As breathtaking as creation can be, I read this morning that “the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Rom. 8:22). It’s a good song today . . . but compared to what’s coming, it’s a sad song. And one day, all creation will raise it’s collective voice in thunderous praise and joy and sing a glad song. That day? It’s the day that the glory will be revealed to us.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:18-19 ESV)

That there are “sufferings of this present time” is undeniable. Sure, the sufferings are not the same for everyone . . . some suffer more than others . . . the weight borne in different parts of the world is greater than here . . . and, even in our own part of the world, the load varies widely. So too in my immediate world . . . I have friends and dear brothers and sisters in Christ who are carrying grief that I can barely imagine . . . but each of us knows what it is to suffer.

But Paul calls believers to lift their heads . . . to straighten their backs for a moment . . . and compare their present sufferings to “the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Both the NIV and NKJV translate it “the glory to be revealed in us.” Both accurate I think.

I’m captured by that thought . . . “the glory to be revealed.” What will that glory be like? . . . I can only imagine . . . Revelation 21 and 22 fueling my imagination. It is the glory of God . . . revealed in a new heavens and earth . . . seen like the radiance of the most rare of jewels (Rev 21:11). A glory which envelopes a heavenly city without need of a temple “for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” . . . a city with no need for a sun or moon to shine on it, “for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Rev. 21:22-23). And it will be the glory of no more “music in the minor key” . . . no more sad songs . . . “and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:3b-4). Oh, I can’t wait for the glory to be revealed!

And it’s not just me who can’t wait . . . but all of creation, too! As good as it might look on some days, since the fall, creation too has been subjected to futility, bondage, and corruption (Rom. 8:20-21). As beautiful as it might be, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet! What will it be like to fully experience the fullness of God’s creative hand when it too is delivered from the cloud of sin that now hovers over it and is seeded throughout it? We can only imagine that too . . . but for now, the whole creation “groans inwardly” as it awaits also for the glory to be revealed.

And so, “we wait eagerly” for the adoption process to be fully completed . . . when we are taken home to be with our Abba Father . . . when our bodies are redeemed . . . and we are delivered not just from the penalty of sin, and the power of sin, but, praise God, we are delivered from the very presence of sin. “For in this hope we are saved” (Rom. 8:23b, 24).

No more minor keys . . . no more groaning . . .

And so, I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Even so, Lord Jesus come!