The Wayside Pulpit No.72
Creation's Vanity
In Romans
With the help of a
few modern versions, and Greek Lexicons, Paul's underlying thought becomes much
clearer, and is worth pondering. Instead of "creature" we should read
"creation". It is not so much a commentary on life forms, as on
the whole of creation, certainly of this, our world, but probably the rest of
astronomical space as well.
The word "vanity"
is misleading in our day and age, though it probably conveyed the correct
impression in 1611. One writer, Vaughan, said, "The whole book of
Ecclesiastes is a commentary upon this verse." Solomon frequently employed
the word vanity in his summary of life.
The Greek word is
MATAIOTES. The Lexicons tell us that it means, variously, "futility,
uselessness, purposelessness, lacking in outcome, frustration." No one of
these words gives the fullness. Putting them all together certainly conveys
more of the underlying message.
So, "the whole
creation was made subject to a frustrating purposelessness." Here is
something we can say "Amen" to. Everything man does ends eventually
in the futility of death, corruption, and decay. As the old hymn puts it,
"We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree, and wither and perish,
but naught changeth Thee." Or again, "Time like an ever-flowing
stream bears all its sons away."
Man is often heard saying,
"What's it all about? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I
going? What's the point of it all? After all, the best known fact of life is
death."
In the physical sphere, man
has always spoken about "the elements." In early days, these were
just four in number, being earth, air, fire, and water. But in the last three
centuries science has gradually discovered an amazingly wonderful array of
basic elements in the universe, numbering about 90, and when charted, these
constitute a rich but complicated design which has been called "the
periodic table".
However, there is evidence that
originally there were 118 elements, but those now missing have decayed by
radioactivity. Here again, there is evidence of futility, this time in the
non-biological world.
Paul says that "the whole
creation groans together, and is in labour-pains together until now." Yes,
Paul, and it's been like that for the 2000 years since you penned those lines
and for the 4000 years before!
But this is where the
misery ends. Paul used the word "labour pains", and therefore out of
the strain and stress, the wretchedness, and the futility, there will be a
BIRTH. And we are told in Scripture, and every mother will bear this out, that
as soon as the baby is born, she straight-way forgets all the pain in the joy
of the child.
What child is to be
born? "The creation itself will be set free from the slavery of
corruption, into the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Furthermore, "the anxious watching of the creation is eagerly expecting
the revelation of the sons of God." Why? Because the
"subjection" was attached to that wonderful word "hope".
Now Biblical
"hope" is nothing like ordinary human hope. "I hope we have a
fine day tomorrow," or "I hope he gets well soon." These are
things we might hope for in the natural, with no sure expectation that our
hopes will be realised. But the Greek word ELPIS, translated "hope"
should really be thought of as "sure expectation."
All the apparent
uselessness of human life, the depressing events that continually invade our
ears on the radio and TV, are mere reflections of the "vanity" we
have spoken about. But those who know their God have a hope, a sure expectation
that this will not last, but will issue into a dimension of great wonder.
Paul said, "I reckon
that the sufferings of the present time are NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED with the
glory that will be revealed to us!" God subjected the creation to
futility, uselessness, frustration, and purposelessness, but He did so IN HOPE,
in the certain promise that it was all part of a plan, a purpose, which centres
in His Son Jesus Christ, who "in the fullness of time" came to this
earth to redeem mankind, by His death and resurrection, from the bondage of
slavery, and the coming of the "sons of God", predicted by Paul, is
part of the means to achieve that goal.
Are we eagerly waiting
and expecting the revelation of the sons of God, whereby the rest of God's
creatures can be led forth into this glorious freedom? Are we looking for
the "new heavens and new earth", where righteousness will dwell? Are
we, by our "holy living, awaiting and hastening that day"?
May God grant an ever-increasing
awareness of the sheer glory about to be revealed to mankind in His Kingdom,
whereby the "joy that is set before us" may help us through the days
of trial and difficulty to embrace all that God has in store for the days to
come, awaiting "our adoption, the redemption of our bodies".