The mess we are in...

July 16, 2021 (Friday)

 

What are the scariest word’s in Scripture? Okay, not those… the second scariest words? I think they are, “So God abandoned them to their hearts’ desires…” [Romans 1:24 CEB] Don’t you love “free will?” When we exercise it, bad things can happen. In fact, it seems the insistence on our heart’s desire becomes a judgement from God.

 

So how did we get in this mess? I think Paul explains four things. Three of them CAUSE our trouble, while the last one seems to be a thread that runs through our sin. Let’s take a look at them.

 

The first symptom of trouble is a lack of thankfulness. This goes with not honoring God. Paul explained it this way, “Although they knew God, they didn’t honor God as God or thank him. Instead, their reasoning became pointless, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” [Romans 1:21 CEB] Just to back up a bit in the text, Paul explains that all are without excuse. This comes base knowledge from creation. Now do you see the genius behind evolution?

 

The second step down the slide happens when, “They traded God’s truth for a lie, and they worshipped and served the creation instead of the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” [Romans 1:25 CEB] There are two things mentioned in this verse: worship and service. We tend to fill the “God shaped vacuum” in our heart with something, anything. Ancient people used idols made of wood, stone, and various metals. Modern people chase different things, generally of intangibles. Our gods have become ideals in various forms, rather than God.

 

The third step comes when, “Since they didn’t think it was worthwhile to acknowledge God…” [Romans 1:28 CEB] Wow. We have traveled from not being thankful, to worshiping creation, and now to not even acknowledging God’s existence. It is very possible to live life today without ever considering God. We are busy working and playing. It seems like everything is urgently asking for our attention and energy. We are literally being “drawn and quartered” by life.

 

The last thing, I think is a multiplier. Something that takes our natural tendency to sin and propels us into self-oblivion. Paul notes, “Though they know God’s decision that those who persist in such practices deserve death, they not only keep doing these things but also approve others who practice them.” [Romans 1:32 CEB] When people cheer us on, rather than warn us of our danger, the proverbial cliff is never seen or expected.

 

In today’s world, not only do people approve them, many of our sins are actively marketed to our children. I’ve already mentioned evolution as a theological ground work for many of our theological errors leading to God abandoning us to our heart’s desires. There are other’s you can list them yourself. Anyone who is honest about our culture, our world, and our spiritual state will identify many others.

 

Here’s the deal. What Paul has described is the trajectory of humanity. It is the norm rather than an oddity. All of humanity is under the control of the sinful nature, gleefully multiplied by our culture. We has humans cannot save ourselves. Salvation must come from outside our race. Our hope comes from what Paul described in Philippians 3:9 “…In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith.” [CEB]

 

Jesus, our only hope.