Into the Heart of God # 18

Oneness With God In His Purpose (continued)

Now I must come to the third phase, which will not take very long. It is what the Apostle Paul calls: "The manifestation of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19). Here are his words: "For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God ... for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:19, 22).

Here is a very wonderful idea. No one will question that the whole creation is groaning. The Apostle pictures it in a state which is saying: 'Oh, I wish it would happen soon! Why does it wait so long? When will this thing happen that I feel is going to happen? I am just in agony about it all.' That is how the Apostle explains the conditions in creation, and it is like that, isn't it? This poor creation is in a very bad way. It is groaning and travailing in pain and then the Apostle, with the light which God has given him, tells us why it is in that condition. God has a purpose hidden in the history of this world, and in the history of the nations, hidden from the eyes and the understanding of men: God is doing something through the ages which men of the world do not understand. What is this thing that God is doing secretly? He is securing sons, who are hidden from the world, but the very existence of the world demands that this thing shall come to light one day. This secret purpose and work of God must be made manifest, and Paul says: When that happens the whole creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21). What is this thing for which the whole creation waits? Here it says: "The manifestation of the sons of God." The sons of God are going to be the explanation of all the groanings of the creation, and when they are manifested the whole creation will say: 'This is what I have been waiting for!'

The Apostle John says: "Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him" (1 John 3:2). That is the full meaning of sonship - we shall be like Him, God's Son.

I think you will agree hat what I said at the beginning is right: It is a very great thing that God has called us unto in fellowship with His Son.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 19 - (Oneness With God in His Method and In His Power)