Hmmmm. Then I wonder what Romans 8:19-21 means?
"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
That's New King James, but I've checked a bunch of alternate translations too. Here, for instance, is the English Standard Version that so many are gravitating towards these days: "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 corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Here's the New American Standard Bible: "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly 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 also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Of course, I'm sure there are ways of spiritualizing all of this, as some are fond of doing. I don't know about you, but I prefer not to do that, not being smart enough to know where to stop. Besides, I find it much sweeter to remember the biblical meaning of words such as "hope" ("confident expectation") and so to imagine that maybe, just maybe, our sweet critters will all be waiting for me when "earth's toiling [has] ended."
"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
That's New King James, but I've checked a bunch of alternate translations too. Here, for instance, is the English Standard Version that so many are gravitating towards these days: "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 corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Here's the New American Standard Bible: "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly 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 also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Of course, I'm sure there are ways of spiritualizing all of this, as some are fond of doing. I don't know about you, but I prefer not to do that, not being smart enough to know where to stop. Besides, I find it much sweeter to remember the biblical meaning of words such as "hope" ("confident expectation") and so to imagine that maybe, just maybe, our sweet critters will all be waiting for me when "earth's toiling [has] ended."
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