The Liberation of Creation - Tim Horman
This week at One Church, Tim Horman continued our Romans 8 series with a message full of assurance and hope, reminding us that no matter how hard life gets, our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
In this post, we’ll unpack what that means — why our future hope changes how we live today — and offer some reflection and small-group questions to help you take it deeper.
The Bigger Story of Romans 8
Before diving into verses 18–25, Tim recapped what we’ve already seen: through Jesus, we’ve been freed from sin and death, filled with the Holy Spirit, adopted as God’s children, and given an unshakable assurance of our salvation.
Romans 8 is, at its heart, a chapter about assurance — that we belong to God, that we’re empowered by the Spirit, and that our future is secure in Christ. But Paul doesn’t hide the reality of suffering. Instead, he reframes it through the lens of eternity.
“There is no life without pain. But there’s a difference between meaningless pain and meaningful sacrifice. Purpose doesn’t remove suffering — it gives it a reason.”
Paul’s conviction is simple yet staggering: our current struggles can’t compare to the future glory God has prepared for us. That hope isn’t vague optimism; it’s grounded in the resurrection of Jesus and the Spirit who lives within us.
Creation’s Cry for Renewal
In Romans 8:19–23, Paul paints a sweeping picture: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”
Tim explained that creation itself is “groaning” — longing for renewal, just as we do. The brokenness we see in our world (natural disasters, decay, pain) isn’t the end of the story. It’s the ache of childbirth, not death throes. Something new is coming.
Because of human sin, creation was “subjected to frustration,” but in hope — hope of liberation and restoration. The fall didn’t just wound humanity; it scarred the whole world. Yet God’s plan of redemption includes everything He made.
“It’s not just our souls that will be renewed — it’s the whole creation. Mountains, oceans, forests, creatures — all of it will be restored when Christ returns.”
This gives us a picture not just of personal salvation, but cosmic redemption. When the children of God are revealed in glory, the whole world will be set free.
Connecting to Our Lives
Suffering That Produces Hope
Tim reminded us that everyone suffers, but only those who suffer with Christ can experience a deeper kind of hope. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, we can say, “Not my will but yours be done,” trusting that joy lies on the other side of endurance.
Keeping our “eyes on the prize” — to borrow Paul’s language — doesn’t erase pain, but it reframes it. We can endure because we know how the story ends: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
When we meditate on our eternal future, patience and endurance begin to take root. As Tim said, “We can stay hopeful because the Spirit reminds us that what’s coming is far greater than what we’re going through.”
A Hope That Doesn’t Disappoint
Romans 8:24–25 teaches that hope that is seen is no hope at all. We wait with longing — not because God is absent, but because His promises are still unfolding. The Spirit within us is the “firstfruits” — a down-payment guaranteeing what’s to come.
That means:
Our suffering has purpose.
Our waiting is not wasted.
Our future is secure.
Even creation is waiting with us. The groaning of the world around us echoes the longing in our own hearts. But all of it is leading somewhere — to renewal, not ruin.
In the end, Paul’s message — and Tim’s reminder — is one of breathtaking hope: the story of creation ends not in despair, but in restoration.
When Jesus returns, everything broken will be made new. Every tear will be wiped away. Every pain will be healed. Every injustice will be undone.
“Our hope in Christ means not only will we get the life back that we lost — we’ll also receive the life we never had.”
One Way to Live It Out this Week
This week, whenever you feel weary or discouraged, pause and picture the renewed world to come. Whisper a short prayer: “Lord, help me see my pain through the lens of eternity.”
Let that vision of future glory give you courage and patience in the present.
A Prayer for your Week
Lord Jesus, thank you that our suffering is not the end of the story.
Thank you for the promise of new creation — for the day when everything broken will be restored.
Help me to wait with hope, to endure with patience, and to trust your Spirit’s work in me today.
Amen.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
Personal Reflection
What helps you keep your hope alive when life feels heavy or uncertain?
In what ways do you see “creation groaning” around you? How does this affect your faith?
How might fixing your eyes on eternity change the way you face challenges today?
Small Group Discussion
What stood out to you from Tim’s message this week?
Why do you think Paul links suffering and glory so closely?
What do you think it means for creation to be “liberated from its bondage to decay”?
Can you think of times when God brought beauty or growth out of pain in your life?
How does understanding the Spirit as our “firstfruits” strengthen your faith?
What are some practical ways we can cultivate patient endurance as a community?
How might this vision of future renewal inspire how we care for the environment or creation today?
Take time to pray for one another — especially for those walking through suffering — that God would renew hope.