Title: Sound of groaning / Romans 8:18-28
A Christian can be defined as those who live by hearing voices that others cannot see or hear.
In the text, it is recorded that there is a sound of groaning that unbelievers cannot hear.
1. Creatures (nature)'s groaning sound
“We know that the whole creation groaned and suffered together until now” (verse 22).
When we humans sinned against God and were cursed, nature was also under the curse. “Cursed is the earth because of you, and you will toil all the days of your life, and you will eat of its produce; and the earth will bring forth thorns and thistles for you” (Genesis 3:17-18).
In the days of Jesus, when the tower collapsed and 18 people were crushed to death, Jesus said, “Do you think the eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell and died were more guilty than all those who lived in Jerusalem? I tell you, no. Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4).
Jesus was frustrated by the stupidity of the Jewish people who could not use their neighbors' misfortunes and accidents as an opportunity for reflection.
Likewise, even when we see disasters or accidents around us, we think of it as someone else's business. We should have blessed ears to hear the groans and wraths of nature. The creation is groaning through earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods, and it is a proof that the Lord's second coming is near. “There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines, which are the beginning of calamities” (Mark 13:8).
When the Lord returns, creation in the natural world will be saved and restored just like us, so we are eagerly waiting for the Lord's return. Therefore, we must be humble enough to hear the groans of nature.
2. The groaning of the Holy Spirit
The groaning of the Holy Spirit is a spiritual voice that unbelievers cannot hear. We are sensitive to all sounds of the world, but we cannot hear the voice of conscience, the groaning of the righteous, and the groaning of the Holy Spirit.
Only when we have a pure heart and ears can we hear the groaning of the Holy Spirit.
When we receive Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, dwells in the hearts of those who have been saved, giving us grace and guiding us. The Holy Spirit grieves and groans when we are wrong.
Christians don't care too much about looks. This is because the visible things will disappear and decay forever, but the invisible things (conscience, righteousness, goodness, truth, freedom, grace, heaven) are precious.
Christians value the future over the present. Also, without being conscious of the human eye, we live while thinking about the invisible world and judgment before God.
The Bible says it is more blessed to lay down one's life for the sake of righteousness than to live long in sinning. And the Holy Spirit groans when we lack patience.
“If we hope for what we do not see, let us wait with patience” (verse 25).
Faith is waiting for God's promises and grace, and for the Lord's return. Also, the Holy Spirit groans when our prayers are shaken.
“We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered” (verse 26). When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; but not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39), this is the true prayer. But the Holy Spirit groans when we pray lustfully and selfishly.
But the Holy Spirit does not just groan.
The Holy Spirit knows our weaknesses, so He helps us and our prayers and intercedes for us.
“In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (verse 26).