Hello Oklahoma

The motto for the State of Oklahoma slips my mind at present but nonetheless it has laid out the welcome mat for my trip cross country to my new home in sunny Southern California.  So far today dad and I have received a warm welcome from Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and most recently and currently, Oklahoma.  Still to come are Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and of course, lastly, California.  Should be fun.

Travelling across the country thus far has afforded me ample opportunity to take in some not so familiar scenes of our beautiful nation.  Also, some interesting place names and signs.  A favorite so far is Toad Suck, Arkansas.  So a big shout out to my friends in Toad Suck.  I’m sure you are busy hating toads.

On another note, I’ve tried to make it a point to take in as much of the landscape as I can.  When of course, I am not distracted by the signs.  I’ll be honest, we’ve passed some places that look as if they’re just run down and had enough.  Hello Mississippi.  Also kudos to the polluted suburbs of Memphis and West Memphis.  (pollution will certainly be a daily dietary supplement for me very soon) 

As I’ve taken in the sites, the wildlife refuges and the polluted and dilapidated countrysides alike, my heart and mind were drawn back to Scripture.  Two passages in fact.  From the most prolific man outside of Christ.  The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:20, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”  Paul’s argument here is that creation is in constant declaration of the glory of God, even to those who have yet to hear of His name.  Creation declares that there is a Creator and it declares that He is eternally powerful and divine, among other things.  So when I look at creation, the smog filled skies and the rolling hills of Oklahoma are both proclaiming the glories of God.  But there is another, more profound statement Paul makes that I was reminded of.  In Romans 8:19 and following Paul states, “For the creation waits with eager longing 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 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  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.”  I was sitting and looking and thinking, ok the smog, pollution, tearing down and wasting away of creation is due to the fact that as Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God their disobedience wrought chaos in the Garden and warranted subjection and futility until a latter point in time when the plan of God would be fully revealed.  So the smog and pollution and dryness and wear and tear are due to sin and rebellion.  Before sin there was none of it.  All perfect. 

Gotcha.  Ok, now don’t make me out to be a tree hugger.  I’m not going psycho environmentalist to the extreme.  I’m just sitting watching and thinking and considering the stewardship of what we’ve been entrusted with.  The restoration hope of Christ is not limited to the restoration of our bodies and souls only.  The full and final plan of God is the restoration of all things.  Those who have trusted the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the removal of their sin and guilt will join with Him at the restoration of ALL THINGS.  And then, as I continued to mediate on that I began to think again.  Paul says that creation is subjected to futility and is in bondage and decay…  So, the most glorious display of creation imaginable is but a marred depiction of the more glorious and “whole” creation that is to come.  I’ve seen the sun rise over Mount Everest and I’ve watched the sun set over the Taj Mahal.  Both were incredible, worship filled experiences.  But Paul is asserting that even the most glorious display of God’s grace and mercy in creation is but a marred foretaste of what is to come.  The end looks like this…  “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."   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." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”  THAT is why creation groans.  And it’s why I should as well…