If you were asked to describe the majority of people in this world, those without Jesus Christ, what would you say? I find it interesting how the apostle Paul characterized them, particularly the first descriptor he used. Our text this morning is Romans 1:18-25. (For newcomers to this blog, we are on a journey through the book of Romans.)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, 19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
(NET)
This morning, I was watching a news channel which is trying its darnedest to ignore the presidential candidate who won the Iowa caucuses. The network is doing this in an attempt to sway the election, by painting a false picture to their viewers, the electorate. Campaigns do the same thing. One of the commentators mentioned how one campaign was doing everything it could to stay alive, while the other candidate's momentum "on the ground" in the current battleground state was impossible to ignore. Yet, this is not being portrayed in the media. I'm not saying that this network or that one is ungodly. I am saying that they bend the truth to suit their own purposes. It is the way of the world.
Interestingly, Paul asserts in verses 19-20 that godless people, in their heart of hearts, KNOW the truth, one evidence of God's supremacy being His amazing creation all around us. Unfortunately, rather than bowing their hearts in worship to almighty God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, these people choose to worship created things, most often, themselves or other created beings. They proclaim themselves to be 'smarter than the average bear' (vs. 22). They believe themselves to be "enlightened", intellectual, not falling for foolish "Bible stories". "Who lives his life according to a mere book, after all?!", they condescendingly say.
7But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29so that no one can boast in his presence.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
(NET)
Paul allows these people, who make this deliberate choice, "no excuse" for their unrighteousness. They are unrighteous because they have made a conscious decision to reject God's plan for mankind's redemption, and more importantly, for their own.
They make a very, very short-sighted, foolish exchange. They trade, or exchange, the glory of the immortal God for some other "idol". Be sure you understand --- an "idol" can be any thing and anyone that takes the place of God in our lives. Some versions of verse 25 say this "they exchanged the truth of God for 'the lie' ". What is "the lie" referred to here? It is the assertion that ---
"There is no God; therefore, He cannot be known. Since He does not exist, I am not accountable to Him. I am my own god."
In verse 21, a dreadful verse, we see the result of such a catastrophic choice. Because these people chose to be unthankful and ungrateful, because they chose to glorify "the created rather than the Creator", their thoughts became more and more dark, their actions more and more futile, their hearts more and more dark and impure. In other words, it became more and more difficult for them to see the truth, to see the Light.
And then, the most horrible verse of all - - - verse 24 - - - God gave them over, to wallow in their sin.
Divine abandonment! I'm going to borrow liberally here from John MacArthur:
"Paradidomi (gave … over) is an intense verb. In the New Testament it is used of giving one’s body to be burned (1 Cor. 13:3) and three times of Christ’s giving Himself up to death (Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:2, 25). It is used in a judicial sense of men’s being committed to prison (Mark 1:14; Acts 8:3) or to judgment (Matt. 5:25; 10:17, 19, 21; 18:34) and of rebellious angels being delivered to pits of darkness (2 Pet. 2:4). It is also used of Christ’s committing Himself to His Father’s care (1 Pet. 2:23) and of the Father’s delivering His own Son to propitiatory death (Rom. 4:25; 8:32)"1
If that doesn't put a chill in your morning coffee, I don't know what will. Sounds pretty final, doesn't it? Does this pronouncement mean that it is impossible for some to come to salvation, after they make an initial, disastrous choice? The scriptures declare that "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). It is not up to us to declare someone "hopelessly, irrevocably lost". As long as there is breath in the body, there is hope of eternal salvation. However, this passage should sober us Believers for those we know to be lost and on their way to Hell.
Is this passage eerily familiar? Do you see yourself in these verses? Have you made the mistake, in your past, of rejecting Jesus Christ's offer of salvation? Please don't delay! He is the only Source of Life and Truth. Surrender your life to Him, today.
Well, Father, this scripture passage just makes me ill. When I mull it over I think of my loved ones who are living lives of self-worship, openly testifying to their rejection of You. I'm going to keep living the Truth before them, Lord, loving on them, speaking to them as Your spirit leads and most of all, praying, praying, diligently praying that their eyes and hearts will be opened, that they will reconsider, before it is too late. Oh Lord, have mercy on them! Please speak to them in ways that they will best understand, so that they will be spared Hell and can dwell with You forever. In Jesus' name, amen.
Source:
1 https://www.gty.org/resources/bible-qna/BQ100212/What-Does-Scripture-Mean-When-It-Says-God-Gave-Them-Over
You're right Gena! Because Paul was right. Because God IS right. We are surrounded by God's glory. Look at a birds nest. Built by a bird with a brain the size of a pea - and with no hands! If you don't think that's a miracle, try building one yourself (but don't cheat by using your hands).
ReplyDeleteIf we don't see God's majesty, it's because we don't want to.