that it is winter here, that there is a curse on this place, that this world is not as it was created to be. We will all die, but some will die young, and we will not be able to discern a logic to it or a rationale for it. If someone asks you why a person has cancer, or why a person dies, you tell them “Because the world is not as God created it to be.”

WE FORGET
Sometimes we forget this, because there is still much beauty and goodness here. But just when we get comfortable in the remaining beauty something happens that reminds us of the curse, the wrongness of things:
--You have an angry confrontation with another person.
--the news reports an unbelievably monstrous crime.
--you attend a funeral. In fact, whenever I attend a funeral and I look at the person’s body lying there lifeless I want to cuss and say “This world is not as it is supposed to be!”

GENESIS
The Bible tells us as much. Genesis begins with a story that basically says “God created the world, and it was wonderful! And he created people, and walked with them in this beautiful world he’d made. But then man acted against God’s will, and their fellowship was broken, and the upheaval poisoned not only people but the entire world.”

READ Romans 8:18-25 (p.1118)

1. It is assumed that we have troubles. v18 speaks of “our present sufferings.” You know what this tells me? We should not be so surprised when—in this world--bad things happen to us or our loved ones. v23 says the creation is groaning, but “not only so,” or “not only creation,” but we Christians continue to groan.

Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble.” That prosperity gospel you hear for Christians is unbiblical. No where are we promised prosperity and safety in this world. The Bible talks about “our present sufferings.” It is assumed that we will have troubles.

FLU
You know how when you have the flu you feel awful? You take some Nyquil or Theraflu and you lie down and sleep for, like, 4 hours. And when you get up you feel better. Life is like that. Except, your life in this world—that’s when you have the flu. And when you lie down, that’s when you die. And when you wake up, that’s opening your eyes in the presence of God, who heals all our diseases.

2. The entire creation--and not just mankind--is fallen. We hear often about how people are sinners. (“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”) But what does it mean that “the creation” is fallen and cursed? It means there will be physical defects and calamities completely apart from human actions and choices. That is why tragedies, accidents, and disasters happen. That is why some diseases and infirmities infect a human body, completely unrelated to anything you’ve done. That is why my cousin Gary contracted leukemia when he was 8 years old, and died of it when he was 13.

3. We continue to live under the Curse.
--v20 says we live “in hope [or expectation] that the creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay.”
--v22 says this groaning and pain continues “to the present time.”
--v23 says “we are waiting” for our redemption.

“THE PRESENT TIME”
This phrase “the present time” is a technical term in Greek that means “this present age,” in contrast to “the age to come.” The age to come is one of resurrection and “glory to be revealed.” The Bible says “this present