18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation t has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. - Romans 8:19-25
There is something wrong with this world.
Death reigns in this world, even amongst the creation. This has hit home personally. This morning, my dog that my family has had for the past 8 years passed away. Her name was Allie Grace. This past week, she began to grow weak. She had great difficulty walking and was hardly eating. A trip to the Vet revealed cancer. Five tumors, one on each major organ. Death was immanent. As I digested the news, I couldn't help to think how this wasn't right. This suffering was unjust! Why is my dog developing cancer? For what crime is she suffering? The reality is she suffers under the weight of sin, but not a sin of her own.
While the imputation of Adam's sin on his posterity is disputed among theologians, what cannot be disputed is the curse that God has placed on creation because of the sin of Adam. When Adam choose to disregard God in the garden and go his own way, he set off a chain of events that destroyed the delicate shalom that God had created. Sin and death entered the pristine creation, but it did not effect humanity alone. All of creation was subjected to futility. There is something to be learned from this horror story. When we sin, we do not do so in a vacuum. The effects reach farther than we ever thought they could. It is a serious thing to disregard the commands of God. We injure not only ourselves, but those whom we may not even meet.
But thanks be to God, who has not left us without hope. Even though Allie Grace is gone, there is still hope. I don't know if God will raise animals from the dead. But I do know that one day, in the words of Tolkien, "he will make all the sad things untrue." I'm not sure how that'll work. However, I know that God is good. I know that God took notice today when Allie Grace breathed her last. I know that God is close to those who mourn, even if it's for a beloved animal companion. Please pray for me and family. Pray we remember our true hope and let us be comforted in the knowledge of His love for us.
~sdg