Romans 8:20: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope.
“Creation was subjected to vanity” because God made it that way. The curse of sin came upon man in Adam’s disobedience, but the physical world also came under the curse. Remember that God said to Adam, “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread …” (Gen. 3:18–19). I enjoy going out to the Hawaiian Islands; I know of no place quite as delightful. Yet on a golf course in that “paradise” I found—of all things—thorns! I knocked a ball out in the rough there, out in the lava, and I have never seen as many thorns as were there. I have a pair of shoes that have thorns in them to this good day—I can’t get them all out. Even in that paradise there are thorns. There is a curse on creation. 1
Application
- Even though the creation is under the curse, it still radiates such beauty.
- Likewise, even though we are under a curse, still, there is such Godly beauty that radiates from the life of a Spirit filled Christian. Does your life shine for Jesus?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for making beauty out of the ashes in my life.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 1-8) (electronic ed., Vol. 42). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
