All Groan Up

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Romans 8:19-22

Creation Groans

You know, when Adam dropped a bomb in the Garden of Eden, mankind was not the only one to suffer–all creation was adversely affected as well. As a result, both man and creation groan in anticipation of Christ’s return and the glorious restoration He will bring to those who have believed. Does this suggest that all created things (not human) both believe and hope in His return? You got me. Some things are beyond my imagination. All I know is that creation has an intense expectation for that day and when it arrives it should be a very cool sight in deed.

“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

Man Groans

In the second verse where Paul refers to creation being subjected to futility, he is referring to mankind—the Kings James Version renders a proper translation when it uses the word creature rather than creation. What is Paul attempting to say? Pretty much the same thing Pascal said almost 1500 years later, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

The Apostle would add, “And God put it there.”

Why Would God Put a Void in Us?

I believe it all comes back to the issue of choice. Our Father could have inserted a preset, mechanized sort of attachment towards Himself, but He didn’t. God desired that His creation would, after realizing the extent of His persistent love, would fancy Him over all things worldly. He then gave us a mind (a soul) to decide whether or not we would fill that void with carnal (fleshly) things or things Spiritual. He then gave us examples to follow after like Solomon. Remember what he said?

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2-15

We would recall that Solomon tried everything the planet had to offer—and in tremendous overindulgence. After amassing thousands of sexual partners, gazillions of dollars, abundant knowledge, and partaking of the ultimate party lifestyle, he came to the conclusion it was all vanity; all emptiness; all without worth or merit. In all his wealth, Solomon groaned.

I would have to say that’s my testimony too. Oh, I came nowhere near accomplishing what Solomon had, but I did come to the same conclusion—it was all a waste of time. In fact what the world had to offer was never enough—the void God created in me could not be filled by it. Somehow it all leaked out, evaporated, or wouldn’t fit to begin with. Eventually I discovered what both Paul and Pascal had—only God can permanently fill in the blanks of a man’s life.