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The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God\u2019s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs\u2014heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:16-17)

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Part of our Christian hope is that God will indeed transform our current frailty into the glorious flourishing of new creation.

That does not mean however, as Pastor Michael alluded to yesterday, that there will not be suffering in the mean time.\xa0 Indeed, life in a sin-broken world brings us face to face with cruel diseases, tragic accidents, isolation, and much sorrow.\xa0 Aside from the present circumstances in our own church that remind us of that fact, today also marks exactly one year since the WHO declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic.\xa0 Much suffering indeed.

Jesus met these same sufferings.\xa0 In the unjust and angry opposition to his ministry that would eventually lead to his cross, certainly. \xa0But, also as he simply trudged along from village to village witnessing the cruel diseases, infirmities, ostracism, and unfair situations that impacted the lives of so many.\xa0

Being Jesus, it was in exactly those places of suffering that he brought a foretaste of his coming Kingdom through healing, restoration, and embodied fellowship.\xa0 A taste of the glory of a new creation that all of us will one day share.

And we know that we\u2019ll share in his glory, because the Holy Spirit himself testifies with our spirits that we are God\u2019s children.\xa0 We belong to him, in this life and the next.\xa0

And, as his children we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.\xa0 Co-heirs who can look forward not only to inheriting the received gift of a new creation, but also to inheriting a role and a purpose beyond this life.\xa0 We\u2019ll join in the family business as co-rulers with Christ, stewarding that new creation that we ourselves are a part of.\xa0 We\u2019ll share in the glory of Christ by being ourselves, glorified, but also by serving with him in ways that bring him glory throughout a world renewed and restored.\xa0 \xa0

That is all part of our Christian hope: the glory we await.\xa0

But for now we share in his sufferings in this world: feeling the pain of disease, death, purposelessness, and isolation\u2014especially in the wake of so much death and sorrow.\xa0 But because we belong to Christ and to his family, we know that suffering is not the last word.\xa0 We will also share in his glory.\xa0 The purposeful, community-full glory of a new creation.\xa0

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