In this explanation, what is the creation in Romans 8 looking forward to?
The creation in Romans 8 looks forward to the curse being lifted, when Christ rules and reigns in righteousness and faithfulness. Then the animal kingdom is restored to peace: the wolf dwells with the lamb, and predators eat grass and berries rather than killing, as Isaiah chapter 11 describes.
Les explains that nature today is laboring under the curse, the ecology we see now. He illustrates this with a documentary about prairie chickens and a hawk, showing how creation is currently under threat and death. But he points to Isaiah chapter 11, where the curse is lifted when Christ, the branch of verse 1, rules and reigns. In that future restoration, the animal kingdom changes: the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the wolf will eat grass and berries like other creatures, so the lamb no longer has to worry. This is what the creation in Romans chapter 8 is looking forward to.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
More Questions
What is creation in Romans 8 groaning and looking forward to?
Romans 8's groaning creation is looking forward to the time after the curse has been lifted, when the animal kingdom will be changed as described in Isaiah 11.