Groan No More!

It's true, I've been accused of being a Christmas scrooge. I must confess the Christmas crazy-train isn't my favorite mode of travel through December. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:21-22 that along with mankind creation itself longs to be free of sin's curse - yes, the whole creation has been groaning in pain. I suspect I'm not the only one who struggles to find-keep Christmas Joy. The Season's joyful celebration of Jesus' coming to earth is accompanied by the joyful expectation of His promised return. Paul writes, "we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons - the redemption and transformation of our body." (V.24). So, groaning is okay? Ah, there is a holy stipulation: our sighing must be an eager and joyful expectation of that which Believers are promised when The Messiah appears a second and final time. Yes, of course, we have received new life [in Christ] but there is more to be known of the full inheritance that is to come; here's what awaits those who have placed their faith in Jesus here and now: "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." (Revelation 21;4). Oh, my, what a day of Great Joy that will be! Now, I'm not an advocate of groaning [as-groaning-goes] but if we must groan or sigh, let it be the exuberant joyful looking-toward that glorious day when we will ultimately ... groan no more!