For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:18-20)
As usual, when I first look at the text, I’m really not sure what I’m gonna preach. I don’t see a whole lot. But as I focus in and concentrated and let God speak, there ends up being much more than I can cover or handle or contemplate. I feel wholly inadequate to cover some of the topics here. I look at this text and I see a few words in here that stand out to me. Verse 18. The glory which shall be revealed in us. I see Revelation. Verse 19. I see expectation and manifestation which is revelation so I’ll group those two together. Verse 20. The creature was made subject. Him who hath subjected. I see subjection. Revelation, expectation, and subjection. There’s our three point outline.
Revelation
I know traditionally when we think of the The Revelation, we’re usually talking about the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is for the most part, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Revelation is when Jesus comes riding in.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:11-13)
But I want to bring you attention to the next verse concerning the Revelation. It says in verse 14, “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” The bible says in Jude 1:14, “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.”
If you are saved… I want you to know that things are gonna change. When the saints go marching in, if you are in that number, you will not go marching in in the same state that you are now. I want you to know that “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump,” We ought to be looking for the Three Shalls: “for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52) And it’s gonna be glorioius! “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY which shall be revealed in us.”
Look, I may not know what you’re going through. I may not have been through what you’re going through. I still consider myself pretty young and pretty sheltered. I haven’t lived like some of you have lived. There’s things you’ve suffered and may still be suffering that I’ve never had experience. But there is one thing I know about it. There’s one thing I reckon. And that whatever it is we have to suffer on this earth… whatever it is we have to endure… whatever trials and troubles we face today, tomorrow, on that great getting up morning, it will all be past. It will all be done. It will all be gone. And it will all be nothing compared to the glorious revelation of our eternal state. The glory of God will be as the blinding Sun. Many a cloudy days we have seen, but on that glorious moment that Sun is revealed, and the clouds are driven away, and the muddy grounds and standing water is licked up. Everything is brighter. Everything is fresh and clean.
You say, Preacher are you trying to belittle my sufferings. No, I’m just saying that they are little compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. I’m just saying we ought to look forward to this Revelation. I mean don’t get too excited now. You only have eternal life. You only got God living in you. You’re only sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You’ve only been forgiven of all your sin. You’re only joint-heirs with Christ of his heavenly mansions. I’m saying we got a reason to belittle our own sufferings for a little while.
I know we’re gonna suffer on this earth and in this life. But that’s not all that on our account. Paul said if we suffer with him, we will reign with him. Paul said I reckon. That’s an accounting term. That’s where the word reconcile come from, like when you reconcile your check book? Paul is adding it up. Paul is taking stock. And if you think you’ve suffered, Paul suffered.
…In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (1 Corinithians 11:23-27)
Paul suffered, but he took stock. He added it up. He RECONciled his accounts. He said, “You know I’ve paid a lot of bills on the suffering side of things.. I’ve lost a lot. But Lord, I got a lot coming to me when this is said and done. I’ve got a great inheritance waiting for me. I got a lot stashed away in glory, and it just keeps growing and growing.” Jesus said, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven!” Paul looked at his suffering and his loss and said, “It is nothing!”
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yeah doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8)
Look I know we’re going to suffered hardships and trials and temptations. Sometimes we get down in the dumps. I have my episodes. I might not be going through what you’re going through, but I got my moments. I get discouraged. I get down. Just ask Patty. Or come visit me on a Saturday morning when it’s raining. You talk about depression. You talk about the whole house suffering. But when our suffering turns into self-pity, and we become consumed with our sufferings, maybe it’s time to check the heavenly records, amen? Maybe it’s time to do some reconciling. Maybe we need to look at our heavenly bank accounts and remind ourselves what we got coming, what we got stored up.
I got a lot more than I’ve given. I’ve am blessed so much more than I’ve had to lose. We might have to lose some things for Christ in this life. Oh but what we’ve gained in Christ Jesus. I’m telling you the day I met the Lord Jesus Christ, it was the greatest day in my life. Getting saved is the greatest thing to happen to this old sinner. I didn’t deserve his attention. I didn’t do anything to gain his favor. I didn’t do anything that I might endear myself to him. No. God just loves sinners. God just wants to save old sinners. Oh what I’ve gained on account of Christ.
I’ve gained everything! What I lose is nothing compared to what I’ve gained. What I suffer is nothing compared to what I’ve gained. Paul said that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy. Not worthy. That means worthless. They’re worthless compared to what we’ve gained in glory. Which brings me perfectly to my first and only point about the Revelation.
What is soon to be revealed is now hidden.
Let me say that again: What is soon to be revealed is now hidden. Paul says it’s the glory which shall be revealed “in us.” I’m saying that whatever it is that God is going to reveal when the time right, is already there. The glory that God will reveal in us is already in us. It just can’t be seen. It’s yet to be revealed. It’s hidden.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Now I know the world don’t understand this. And I’m not sure I even do. But my faith is the evidence of that glory that God has given us. Do you remember when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane? He prayed a prayer. He said, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was…” And Jesus goes on to say, “The glory which thou has gavest me I have given them; that they may be one even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me…”
He said I have given them, not I will give them. I have given them. The glory which shall be revealed in us is already in us. It’s already in us because Jesus put it in there. Can I say this is? The glory is present and accounted for, or should be accounted for. And that corresponds with the first part of the text we’re in right now. Paul says, I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The sufferings of this present time. Not the sufferings of yesterday. Not the sufferings of tomorrow. Paul is not worried about yesterday’s sufferings. He said, “But this one things I do, forgetting those things which are behind… I press toward the mark.” Paul is not worried about tomorrow. He said, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus which strengtheneth me.” So we’re not talking about what happened last year, or what might happen a year from now. We’re talking about right now. Today. This present time. Paul is reckoning his present condition.
He saying that there’s something inside of me this present time. And the hope and expectation of the revelation or the manifestation of this is better and greater more worthy and valuable than any suffering I am presently enduring. When you think of that word revelation, what do you think of? I always think of a magician. He’s got something behind that napkin that he’s gonna let the audience see. I think of the presentation of a portrait. That white sheet hangs over the painting. Whatever is going to be revealed is already there. It’s just covered up right now. It’s behind the veil. When a bride is presented to her husband, she comes veiled. Sometime before the minister pronounces them man and wife, sometime before the husband kisses the bride, that veil is removed. One day this veil of flesh will be removed and what God has prepared for his Son will be revealed to him and all the universe.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53)
We’re going to disrobe from the corruptible. We’re going to throw off the veil of mortality. And what will be revealed is what we believed all along. The bible says that Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The bible says, “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)
O if we can ever get a grasp on that. That God has already sanctified and separated and chosen for his Son the bride. Like the Old Testament story of how Eleazar, Abraham’s servant, had gone and found a wife for his son Isaac. You know the story of how he told God, “Let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for they servant Isaac…” (Genesis 24:14) And how Rebekah came out and met Eleazar and it all came to pass as he had asked God. And she agreed to go with Abraham’s servant. And along the way back home, the Bible says:
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. (Genesis 24:63-65)
Listen, that veil did not change what it concealed. And it did not change the events that would shortly come to pass. The bible says, “Isaac brought her into his mother’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.” And somewhere in that verse that veil was removed. Don’t forget what is behind this veil of flesh; the beautiful, glorious bride of Christ. I know this flesh is an utter failure. And it fails us all the time. We mess up. We let the flesh prevail. Sometimes we wonder if we’ll ever get it right. We get discouraged in the Lord. We give up. We get in sin. But I want to say this: That veil doesn’t change what it conceals. And it doesn’t change the events that will shortly come to pass. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) Right now, the Lord Jesus Christ awaits and lifts his eyes across the fields, and behold, the camels are coming. As sure as I’m breathing those camels are on the move and there’s nothing in heaven or earth that is going to stop them. Not the devil, the world, this flesh, or anything under the sun or above the sun that is going to stop that caravan.
Expectation
Therefore, this brings us to expectation. And I’m already kinda in there. It’s hard to separate these things.
What is soon to be revealed is at this present time hidden. Being hidden doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Being hidden does it mean it isn’t so. Being hidden is still being. It’s still existing. I want to encourage you to believe what I’m telling you. Trust in what the Bible is telling us. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.” Let me get back to what I was saying earlier. Faith is the evidence. This is backwards from what the world believes. The bible is not always logical. The world says that 1 + 1 = 2. But the bible says that 1 + 1 = 1. The Bible says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) One man plus one woman = one flesh. The world says that seeing is believing. If you show me, I’ll believe it. But the bible says, if you believe it, then you’ll see it. At Lazarus grave, Jesus said to roll the stone away, and Martha said, “He stinketh!” But the bible says, “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
And this is similar. The world says just because you believe something doesn’t prove that it’s so. Believe something to be true is not evidence that it is true. But somehow, in the wisdom of God, faith in God does. Faith is the evidence of thing not seen. Saved folk living by faith proves to the world the things of God. If you want more of the glory of God and the presence of God manifested in your life. If you want more proof of God, then put your trust in him. Believe that what shall be revealed in due time is there already inside of you. Believe that greater is he that is in thee than he that is in the world. I know I’ve talked about this before. Sometimes we wait for that big things to happen to change our life. We go day and day, discontent with our circumstances. We’re waiting for the big day! Oh but if you’ve been saved, the big day has already come and gone. That big change has already taken place inside. And one day God is going to make it all clear. He’s going to take the veil away. He’s going to reveal what’s in us. He’s going to manifest to us and all the sons of God.
So the big change I’m looking for is Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body…” You think about the Lord Jesus Christ, the firstfruits. 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 1 Corinthians 15:23 “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Christ is the ensample, the firstfruits. The firstfruits tell us what the main harvest is going to be like. Jesus was glory robed in flesh. Jesus was the King of Kings hidden from man. Paul said, “None of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:8-9) The Lord of glory robed in flesh. And the servant is not above his master. Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. I am “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13) I’m looking for the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only will the Lord Jesus Christ be revealed, but the glory in us shall also be revealed. Or shall I say, unleashed, no longer to be hidden and subdued by the flesh. Amen.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” Can I just say this: Faith allows me to expect the revelation or the manifestation. I always joke with my wife that there’s some people out there that don’t give out invitations, they give out expectations. Some of you will get that. Expectation is a faith that something will happen in the future. Expectation is to count on it. Expectation is to prepare for it. Expectation is to wait for it. We’re not invited to the marriage supper of the lamb. We’re expected. Invitations are for sinners. Saints are expected. In a lot of bibles, there’s a little definition reference on that word creature. And you look it up and it says creation. Paul is meaning that the entire creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the earth. It’s as if God did not provide a lamb for a sinful man, but instead provided man for the Lamb. Creation was created for the Lord Jesus Christ. The bible says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principlalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” (Colossians 1:16) The bible says “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:3,4) All of creation, all of mankind, is on a crash course for the Revelation. All of creation has pressed toward this day. I’ve heard it and read it. That the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most prophesied event in the Bible. From Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses to David to Paul, creation has been waiting for this day. It is the earnest expectation of the creation. I was looking for definitions of earnest. It means committed. It means staid. You ever heard that expression. Stay the course!
Like I said before, right now, the Lord Jesus Christ awaits and lifts his eyes across the fields, and behold, the camels are coming. As sure as I’m breathing those camels are on the move and there’s nothing in heaven or earth that is going to stop them. Not the devil, the world, this flesh, or anything under the sun or above the sun that is going to stop that caravan. No. the course is staid. The commitment has been made since the foundation of the world. How do we wait for the blessed coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? And this is where I’m headed. How do we wait? To expect the manifestation of the sons of God is to believe in the sons of God. Does waiting on the Lord Jesus mean to just sit around and do nothing. Sit on the couch and read a magazine like you do in a waiting room. Or does waiting on the Lord Jesus mean to serve and work and live for the Lord Jesus Christ? But see, you’re only going do what you believe and trust to be so.
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered the house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:12,13)
You’re only going to do what you believe and trust to be so. To expect the manifestation, the revelation, of the sons of God, is to know and believe and trust that you are son of God. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16) We ARE the children of God. “But as many as received him, to them gave he POWER to become the sons of God…” (John 1:12) “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh in us..” (Ephesians 3:20) Does that power dwell inside of you. Or let me ask you this: Do you believe that it does?
Subjection
I have to leave that there and move on to the last topic: Subjection. Verse 20 says, “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.” Made subject and hath subjected brings us to this topic of subjection. Subjection has through the years has been used as a war term or a political term. The Israelites were put under subjection of the Egyptians. You have a king and his subjects. The subjects are under subjection of the king. To subject means to bring under control or jurisdiction. So with that understanding we look at this verse.
The creature or the creation was made subject to vanity. Now vanity comes from the word vain. And vain means useless and futile. So mankind was made subject or brought under control of uselessness and futility. The bible says, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were no redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.” (1 Peter 1:18) We need to understand that vanity and corruption is wholly the same thing. Mankind is brought under the control, subjected to, the uselessness and futility of corruptible things. Corruption and death is the king. Corruption and death is in control of man. Vanity denotes mortality and corruption. I know a lot of times we hear the word vanity, and we think about that little girl in the Charlie Brown cartoons looking at the mirror at her perfect curls. It’s funny. But there’s nothing funny about corruption and death. When Solomon says, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!” He’s saying that all is corrupted. All is useless and worthless and futile and will end in death!
Vanity is the disregard for what is worthwhile, what is truly valuable. There is an eternal purpose for our souls. There is an immortal plan and purpose for each and everyone of us. Vanity is to turn from that. Vanity is to ignore it, to disregard it, to spurn the plans of God and spite them. If all our life is focused around the temporal, the flesh, the material things of man, and the few years that we live on this earth, then truly we are subject to vanity, under dominion of corruption and mortality.
But I want you to see this: “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly…” Not willingly. Not willingly. This means that it was not our choice. It was not our idea. It was not in our power to grant this or deny this. I know we have to explain and teach about the fall of man. And we sometimes blame the devil. We blame Adam and Eve. I know they all had their part in the fall of man, but know this: That’s it is God Almighty that sits on the throne. It was God Almighty that decreed, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of they life!” It was God Almighty that drove out the man; and placed cherubims and a flaming sword to keep the way of the tree of life. For the create was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of HIM who hath subjected the same in hope. Him is God. It was God that put the creation under subjection. Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy the both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) Only God has the power to either grant or deny this. It’s his will, not mine.
Not willingly. The creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly. Now I understand the free will of man. Man has a will. But is wasn’t my choice to eat the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It wasn’t my choice to be cursed. It wasn’t my choice to work and sweat and toil all the days of my life in sorrow. It was Adam and Eve, not me. The bible says that “Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similtude of Adam’s transgression.” (Romans 5:14) I didn’t sin after the similitude of Adam’s transgression. I didn’t do what Adam did. It wasn’t my will to be plagued into corruption and sin. It wasn’t my will to be made subject to vanity. That wasn’t my choice. And you might have a gripe with God if that was the end of the matter, but it’s not. It might not have been your choice to be made subject to vanity (not willingly). But it is your choice if you decide to stay subject to vanity. It might not have been your will to be subject to sin and the wages of sin. But if you choose to die in your sin, you will do so on your own free will. God has made us an offer. “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
God is HIM, him that hath subjected. It is God that has subjected us, put this creation under the power of vanity. There is a certain sense of relief knowing and accepting that it’s God that has put us in this fix. I believe that knowing and accepting this can help us understand that it’s God that will deliver us from it. When a person gets saved and accepts the gift of God, he must first accept that the wages of sin is death. To receive the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, you gotta receive the bad news first. “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” (Matthew 9;12) I believe that the essence of knowing that you are a sinner is knowing that God is sovereign, just, and holy. To know your sin is to be acquainted with the holiness of God and the power and authority of God. To know you are a sinner is to humble yourself before the mighty hand of God.
Of course verse 20 doesn’t end there. “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. God has subject mankind, his creation, to vanity. But he has also subjected creation to hope. We are cursed by vanity, yet we are saved by hope. Romans 8:24 says very plainly, “For we are saved by hope!” And the same rules apply. Subjection is subjection. Hope has subdued us. Hope is in control. We are brought under the power of hope. And hope will conquer vanity.
I’ve used this before. I was given an illustration of hope. Hope is the holy matrimony between desire and expectation. You may have a desire to go to heaven, a desire to be rid of the curse of sin, a desire to be freed from the subjection of vanity. But if you don’t have a reason to expect what you desire, then you don’t have a hope. My reason is his reason. He said let us reason together. The creature was made subject to vanity by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. He has a reason to subject us to vanity. He has a reason to subject us to hope. And his reason is my reason to expect what I desire.
Conclusion
Revelation, Expectation, and Subjection. This subjection of hope gives me an expectation for the revelation of the glory in me. By what authority do we hope for that revelation? by what authority do we hope and wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the same authority that has subjected us to vanity. The authority of God and the power of God.
Romans 8;24 says, “For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Let me read that first verse again, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Hope that is seen is not hope. Colossians 1:26,27 “The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
I want to try to put this together. The hope of glory, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the revelation of glory, the manifestation of the sons of God, the future, the things to come – they should affect what the bible calls this present time, particularly the sufferings of this present time. What is it that you’re suffering? Is it more than what is in you? Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Do you believe that?
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. (Genesis 24:63-65)
The journey might be long and it might be rough, but like Rebekah did, lift up your eyes to the horizon and see that there’s somebody that waits for you, somebody that has long awaited to remove the veil. Lift up your eyes above the fields. Do you know what those fields represent?
“…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground…” (Genesis 3:17-19)
Those fields represent all the toils and hardships of this life, all the sweating, the thorns and thistles that we encounter on this road. Look above all that this present time. It’s only temporary. Look above all that into eternity. Take your eyes this present time off the fields and see what lie on the other side of that field. Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, the lover of your soul. For a moment in time as Isaac looked across the fields and saw the caravan coming, Rebekah also lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac waiting. For a moment in time they, though they be a field away, locked eyes together, waiting and hoping and anticipation the blessed day they would be together.
One day soon we’ll meet the lover of our soul and the veil will be moved. We shall see him face to face. Bless his holy name!