No Excuse!

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.  (Romans 1:18-23, NASB)

I love the book of Romans.  The Apostle Paul lays out the human condition (we are all sinners, full stop), and the remedy (faith in Christ Jesus).  A portion of the introductory chapter is above, in which Paul begins to make the case that we’re all  naturally evil beings; that despite the evidence all around us, some ignore God Almighty; and we think we’re wise and thus rebel against the Creator of the universe. 

Paul begins by saying that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”  There are those people who refuse to recognize the truth about God and His creation, even though God has given us plenty of evidence.  Those will suffer God’s wrath on the day of judgment, and will face eternal separation from God Almighty.  Some argue that it’s negative to speak of the wrath of God, that it’s better to take a more positive approach.  However, the Bible is full of talk of the consequences of unrighteousness.  If a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ to avoid the wrath of God, then that’s OK! 

Romans 1:20 image.  Found at DailyVerses.net, https://dailyverses.net/romans/1/20

Paul continues, in that since the beginning of time, God has left a myriad of clues, so that we “are without excuse.”  People ask, “What if someone has never heard of Jesus?”  Paul is saying that there is enough evidence in the creation all around us that should lead one to faith in the Creator.  “His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen . . . ”  From the hymn “How Great Thou Art”:  “I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.”

Even if people acknowledge God, there are those who don’t “honor Him as God or give thanks.”  Their hearts are darkened, they think they know better than God, and they engage in the worship of worthless idols.  In ancient times, the idols were images “in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”  Today our idols are anything that takes our attention away from God.  They could be television or work.  Not that there’s anything wrong with those, but if they draw us away from the time we should be spending with our Father, then we should reevaluate how we budget our day. 

The bottom line is we all need Jesus.  “Don’t leave earth without Him!”  We’re all sinners, and God has made a way for us to be reconciled with Him, by sending His Son to earth, that if we believe in Him we’ll have everlasting life in heaven with the Father.  Don’t “[profess] to be wise,” thinking that you know better than God.  We’ve all been there.  God wants to have an intimate relationship with us.  There’s one way to do that. 

Today is my 68th birthday.  It’s been over four years since my diagnosis of ALS.  My birthday three years ago was my first where I wondered if I would make it to my next.  But God is in control.  He has numbered my days, and apparently I’m not there yet.  Sue has taken such good care of me.  By God’s grace, I’ll be here tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year.  “If God allows . . . “