While the creation is filled with marvels and is unquestionably a beautiful place, it is also undoubtedly broken. From the time man fell in the Garden of Eden the world has been groaning from the effects of sin (Romans 8:22). Though different from the pain people experience, all of creation struggles in a state God did not intend for it to be in. But as we examine God’s Word we see that He has a plan in the suffering, not only for us but for all of creation. He promises over and over the pain that exists now will not always be our reality, and that one day He will make all things right.
The first place we find a promise that creation will be redeemed is in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve have just sinned; they have just broken their perfect relationship with God, and nothing can be the same. But in His loving care God promises that one of Eve’s descendants will crush the head of Satan, the serpent (v. 15). This symbolizes victory over sin, death, and the brokenness we experience on a daily basis. The Lord never intended for the world to remain in darkness; instead, He promised to give light!
As we continue our search, we see a small picture of God’s plan for the future in other books of Scripture. Many of these books are filled with God’s judgment for the sins of men. But there are also pages filled with the promise that He will not always be angry (Psalm 103:9), that He will bring His people into their own land (Jeremiah 30:3), and that He will be their God (Ezekiel 36:28). The Lord does not want us to be separated from Him; He has a plan to bring us back into fellowship with Him, a plan that has become reality in His Son, Jesus Christ! Even though we struggle with sin each day we look forward to a future where we will no longer struggle. Instead, we will live in harmony with God and His creation.
Isaiah 11 speaks of the time when all creation will be restored. Verse 6 says, “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.”
There will not be a struggle between hunter and prey. The animals that chase and devour others in the present will be at peace with the weaker ones. And more than that, they will be gentle enough for a child to lead them. We will not have to be afraid of being attacked by animals anymore. All creation will live together without fighting each other. What a day to look forward to!
As God’s most treasured creation, people themselves are also in need of rescuing. Romans 8:23 says, “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.” We struggle against the effects of sin each day, even as born-again believers. But the saving we need is different from that of the rest of creation. Each person has sinned against our holy Creator and broken our relationship with Him. We need to be redeemed not just from the broken state of our world but from the broken state of our hearts.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” -Ephesians 1:7
By repenting of our sins and trusting in the name of Jesus our hearts are redeemed to God. We are no longer under the power of sin, and for only a short while will we have to live with its effects. We can have confidence that our bodies will be redeemed and we will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
And that is truly the best part of the promise of redemption: living forever with God. Isaiah 11: 9 tells us, “They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” The reason for this peace is that all creation will know their Creator. We will finally see the Lord as He is, and we will be like Him because we will be redeemed ourselves! (1 John 3:2) Our relationship with Him will be restored to what it was meant to be, perfect and complete, as when Adam and Eve were in the Garden. What a source of hope these words are for believers!
The last passage we will explore is Revelation 21, right at the end of God’s revealed Word to us. The chapter begins with these words: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” The Lord’s plan of redemption comes to a close with this, a new heaven and earth. He will not just clean up the old creation, leaving it beaten and sin-stained. He is going to transform it into something beautiful and flawless. He is going to wipe all our tears away, and death and pain will have no place in this new creation (verse 4).
“And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” -Revelation 21:5
Even as we live in a broken world our hope is not in this world. Our hope is in our Creator, who has promised that all will be made new. As we see small pieces of beauty in our fallen world we look forward to a time when we will no longer feel sin’s mark on the world. And until that day, may we thank the Lord for His promises to make all things new.
Written by NBB Alumna: Rachael English
