What Are You Waiting for, Suffering Christian?

8th Sunday after Pentecost, 7/30/17
Romans 8:18-25


What Are You Waiting for, Suffering Christian?
I. The liberation of all creation
II. The redemption of our bodies


The guys are meeting at their favorite watering hole. After a few minutes of the obligatory pleasantries such as, “How ya doin’?” and, “How are the wife and kids?” the conversation quickly centers on what’s troubling the three men. Family, job, and health are the all-too-common subjects of conversation. And even though they meet regularly and the topics of discussion only vary slightly, nothing seems to change. The problems persist. In fact, the aggravations grow slowly and steadily worse. To an outside observer, nothing good ever comes out of these conversations. Week after week these same men meet and depart, and nothing changes, at least not appreciably so. And when they gather together again, the discussion will be depressingly familiar. So, why do they do it? Why do they meet if nothing positive results? Because misery loves company. The three of them know that the last thing one of them is going to do is to show up and tell the other two how wonderful his life is. That would make the other two envious, which would be no help at all. Instead, they find some comfort in the fact that they’re all in this life, as painful as it is a times, together. Misery loves company.

In today’s sermon text, the Apostle Paul at first appears to take the same conversational approach. He opens by mentioning “our present sufferings.” Like the three men at their favorite watering hole, he states the obvious—we’re all suffering in this life. If someone tells you that they’re not suffering at all in some way, they’re not being honest. In fact, as Christians Paul would remind us that we have the additional burden of suffering for the sake of Christ. But unlike the three friends, he doesn’t dwell there for even a split second. He immediately lifts our spirits by asserting that “our sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

But, in the midst of our sufferings, that’s so difficult for us to process. Our psychological default is to wallow in our sufferings and to seek out others who will do so with us.

But, as Christians, that’s not who we are or what our loving Lord has in store for us. But that makes us want to ask, “What is in store for us?” As we ponder God’s word before us this morning, let’s ask that question in a slightly different way. Let’s not feign that our lives are one endless Sunday school picnic. Let’s admit we’re suffering. And then let’s ask each other, “What are you waiting for, suffering Christian?” Let’s listen as our almighty and loving Lord answers us in a way that lifts our spirits eternally.

Part I.

More than one suffering person has hit the pits of life and wondered, “How did I get here? What decisions did I make that got me to this point? What things beyond my control landed me here of all places? How am I possibly responsible for the misery I’m experiencing?” And when that’s our mindset and we come to the conclusion that we’re not completely innocent of bringing this on ourselves, but we surely don’t deserve this, then our next logical step is, “God, why are you doing this to me?” It’s as if we’re waiting for God to defend himself to us.

That’s the wrong thing to be waiting for. The ancient hero of faith, Job, waited for it and the Lord blasted him with questions that Job couldn’t begin to answer.

That would be a valid question if we were the only ones suffering. But the truth, as Paul states it repeatedly, is that, if we open our eyes, we can see all of creation suffering along with us. The truth is that nothing goes absolutely right in our world. So, a better question for us to ask is, “How did creation get to this point?” How did our world become to be this frustrating, painful, depressing spinning globe of rock that it is today? As one of God’s people, you know the answer. It’s because of sin. God didn’t design and create the world this way. It all began when Adam and Eve rebelled against God and sinned. And ever since that eternally tragic moment, our world has been subjected to sin. Paul states it this way, “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it.” That almost sounds as if God is responsible for our sinful world. That’s not true. Human beings are responsible. But God allowed creation to suffer along with us.

Why? Why not allow sinful people to live in a perfect world where the skies are not cloudy all day? First, because that’s not possible. Sinful people will inevitably and irreversibly ruin creation with their sin. Since the world was made for humans and not humans for the world, when humanity was corrupted with sin, so was creation. God announced that very thing when he first confronted the now-sinful Adam and Eve.

But it’s also due to the love our God has for us. Really? Love? Absolutely. What hope would fill sinful humans if they lived in a perfect world? Their dying hope would be to live here forever, to take no thought of the life to come, to ignore the God who calls them to repent, because this life is so enjoyable, so perfect. But every difficulty and trouble we face ought to remind us of our sinfulness and our need to repent. A loving God offers us daily opportunities to do just that.

And as repentant sinners, we look forward to the day when all this suffering will end. Paul says it like this, “The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” God will bring an end to our world’s suffering on the Last Day. And then he will remake everything so that creation can enjoy glory with us.

What are you waiting for, suffering Christian? You’re waiting for the liberation of all creation.

So which of the following describes you better: 1) I realize that this world is subjected to frustration and I quietly take my place in it, trusting the Lord to sustain and relieve me as he sees best. Or, 2) I find myself constantly chasing after something or someone with the hope that suddenly my life will be everything I had hoped it would. And now for true confession. Even as God’s people, aren’t there times when one or the other accurately describes us? The new person who lives in us by faith in Jesus is willing always to sit and wait quietly in the midst of creation’s collapse. But the sinful nature in us is insatiable when it comes to the pleasures of this world. And it won’t be content until it’s intoxicated on them. I know what that’s like. Do you? The reality is we’re suffering Christians and the repentant Christian recognizes that. And so we say, “Lord, I confess that my hopes and dreams are too often on the glory here and now, a glory you never promised me. Forgive me, and lift my eyes toward you and the time when you will liberate all creation from the curse of sin. Lord, point me to your cross where you won eternal glory for me and every sinner. And then let my soul find peace and satisfaction in you as our world continues to decay.” That’s what we suffering Christians are waiting for.

Part II.

I’m no child psychologist. Far from it. But I’ve been told that, among teenagers, body image is a huge issue. Far too many of our young people aren’t happy with the bodies they live in. They obsess over looking like someone else or being someone else.

I’ve told more than one student in our Catechism classes, “That’s not what’s important. What’s most important is what God thinks of you.”

Well, just what does God think of me? In particular, what does he think of this body I’m in which is subject to daily suffering and frustration?” And our questions lead to unrealistic longings. Even as mature adults don’t we look at someone else and wish, “I wish I looked like that.” Or, “If only I could physically do what they can do”?

Our Lord has an answer for that and he shares it with us this morning. Listen again to what he promises us. “We…groan inwardly as we wait for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Paul speaks about the redemption of our bodies. As students of the Bible, don’t we believe, teach and confess that Jesus already redeemed us with his holy, precious blood and his innocent sufferings and death? Indeed we do. Those are the words of Martin Luther that many of us have committed to memory. So, if Jesus already redeemed us, just what is this redemption Paul is talking about?

First, God chose you by name in eternity. He knew you as one of his dear children even before the world began. Second, he bought you back from sin, death and the devil with the precious blood of Christ shed on Calvary’s cross. At your baptism the sign of the cross was likely made over you as a redeemed child of God. You belong to Jesus—soul and body. And God has one more marvelous thing in store for the bodies that Jesus redeemed. On the Last Day, Christianity teaches and believes that Jesus will raise your body and glorify it. At that moment your body will be forever free of sin, temptation, and death. Glory. Eternal glory. That’s what your God has in store for you.

What are you waiting for, suffering Christian? You’re waiting for the redemption of our bodies.

Yes, misery loves company. But the Christian is an eternal optimist. That’s because the Christian knows and believes that all the rest of time and even eternity itself is certain for us because of the Savior who died and rose again for us. So, Christian, bury in Christ’s grave your pessimism brought on by your sufferings. Frame whatever it is that troubles you around the eternal glory that Jesus won for you and guarantees to you. That’s what his death and resurrection were all about—your forgiveness and eternal glory with him for soul and body. Eternal glory loves company. Live in it and share it! That’s what you’re waiting for! Amen.