One key element in our destiny as sons of God involves the freedom of creation from futility.
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. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:19–23)[1]
The groaning within us is key to this idea of ending futility. When we groan within ourselves, something really begins to change because the greatest manifestation of futility is right here within us. That is where I believe in futility. It is what I see in the world around me; it is what I am convinced of and conditioned to understand that subjects me to futility. And I think that is the same for every person. We cannot attempt to go out into our surroundings and end futility as a substitute for being free within ourselves.
The whole concept of the sons of God begins with a cry within us. We have been given the first fruits of the Spirit; therefore, this cry emerges from within us. God still gets the credit and the glory. It starts with Him, but once it is started, we can lend our force to it and get behind what the Holy Spirit is doing in us. Remember, it is into the freedom of the sons of God that all creation is liberated. It begins by ending futility in us. It starts as a seed, as a simple cry of intercession, because that is the expression of the Holy Spirit within us saying, “Victory! Futility has to end here.”
From the time that Christians are converted, they are never without victory. The victory was won for us and given to us by Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah. Paul wrote, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). At no time are we without that victory. It is part of the redemptive provision of the Lord that we have the victory over sin, over satan, over the flesh, over hell, and over the grave. I think that just about covers it. From the moment we are saved we have victory over futility.
It is an absolute fact that the victory is ours. Do you feel that you have great needs? That is an illusion. Our Father’s “divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). What power we will have when we believe that we are what God says we are! God has given us authority and grace to possess our possessions in Christ, so do not accept the enemy’s delusion of limitations. Christians start in a position of victory (1 John 5:4). Let there be a cry in your heart that says, “Father, I know there is more to see than what I am perceiving at this moment, so I reach into You. Show me the truth.” That is how we begin. We groan to be free from futility.
[1] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).