Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (NKJV)
(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)
I have often said or written “the evidence for the existence of God, the authenticity of the Bible, and support for the life of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming and undeniable, that any honest person seeking the truth can come to no other conclusion but to believe”.
Of course that statement is met on a regular basis with much eye-rolling, skeptical comments and general dismissals. My thought for today comes from something I was asked: “when the Truth is so obvious, how come people still don’t believe it?“. That’s a great question, especially in today’s “designer-label, buffet-line, department-store, find-one-that-you-like” age of religions.
So why do people ignore, dismiss, explain away or flat out reject the Truth that is so readily available? Is that Truth really knowable by all people? Let’s answer the latter first.
Romans 1:20-23 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (NKJV)
Can the Truth be known? The Apostle Paul says YES. It has been made known to ALL humans “since the creation of the world” because the nature of God is clearly seen in Creation. If that is true, then why don’t people see God in His Creation? Enter Satan…
Romans 1:20 gives the reason why materialistic evolutionary thought has been so destructive to both mankind and the Church. We have become so brainwashed and indoctrinated in evolutionary thought and ideas, that when we see Creation, we don’t think of God. We think of “millions of years” of trial and error, of chance, of random forces that supposedly resulted in our world.
Don’t underestimate Satan…
he knew what effect Evolution would have:
mankind would no longer see God in Creation.
If we had no other argument than this, it would be enough to announce the COMPLETE incompatibility of evolution with anything Christian. Evolution robs God. Evolution takes the creation around us and pays honor to the gods of time and random chance… rather than illuminating the attributes of the All-powerful Creator God.
Regardless, mankind is without excuse, evolution or not. The existence and attributes of God are “clearly seen” in creation including “His eternal power and Godhead”. But instead of seeing God, and worshipping Him, people become “futile in their thoughts” and “foolish” in their darkened hearts.
Now notice what Paul says in verse 22: “Professing to be wise”… how common is it to believe today that if “science” disagrees with the Bible, the Bible must be wrong? “Professing to be wise”, those who deny God’s existence become “fools” and begin to worship the creation, instead of the Creator. Now don’t miss that point. It is crucial…
God is clearly seen in creation.
Mankind, professing to be wise,
foolishly chooses make creation their god,
rather worship the God of Creation.
This is the reason why NO person will have an excuse when they stand before God. Let me give you an analogy to help clarify the point.
Let’s say one day while you are out driving, you approach an intersection. At this intersection there are huge red STOP signs on each corner. What’s more, there is a large blinking red light hanging over the middle of the intersection. Beneath that is a police officer with his hand help up, blowing his whistle.
But you don’t stop. You just keep right on going, ignoring what you see.
Later on, you try to explain to the Judge, “I just thought those stops signs, and the red light, and that cop were all there by accident. I imagined that those things had randomly formed at that intersection. I didn’t think I had to take it seriously. I figured if it all came to be there by chance, that it really must not have any meaning. Everyone knows that over hundreds of years, those stop signs came to be there by random mistakes in road building. I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING!”.
Well now, that’s just absurd isn’t it? That person is a fool, aren’t they? How much more a fool is the person who sees CREATION and denies the existence of a CREATOR? “Well God, I saw all the incredible design, but how was I suppose to know there was a Designer? I experienced the awesome power in nature, but how could I know there was a Higher Source behind it? The Nature of God was obvious in Nature but how was I suppose to see it when everyone knows that Evolution is the true ‘god’ that produced us?”
Evolution is not science. It is a religion. Evolution is a “faith” where men, “professing to be wise”, proclaim that the “god of time and chance” is responsible for everything we see around us. Evolution is a religion that replaces the True and Living God. Evolution is a religion, a worldview, a theory that negates the need for a Creator. Men dress it up in “scientific” clothing to give it an air of authority and superiority, but make no mistake, and do not be naive…. Evolution is a religion, pure and simple.
No man can stand before God and say “I couldn’t know about You”. We either choose to worship the Creator, or worship the creation (including man worshipping himself who is part of the creation). Back to my question: Why don’t people believe in God if the Truth is so plain?
Paul makes the reason very clear: because they SUPPRESS THE TRUTH. Because of creation, and because God’s divine law is written deep in the heart of man (Rom 2.15), every single human being has access to the Truth. And no doubt that our God is quite capable of delivering His Truth, including the Gospel, to any person who is truly seeking it.
But, most people suppress the Truth about God (Matt 7.13-14). They don’t WANT to believe it because then they have to RESPOND to it. The wrath of God will be justly poured out on them for ignoring the Truth that God has made clear and available to all.
That is why NO person, when standing before God in judgment, will have an excuse, can plead ignorance, and can proclaim “unfair!” to a Holy and Righteous God.
Lord, Help us see Truth. Help us to see Your attributes clearly displayed in Your creation. Help us to never be “fools” while pretending to be wise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Contemplation: Do you think that Evolutionary ideas have any effect on your understanding of Scripture and God? Have you ever considered that Evolution is a religion dressed up as science? Do you think it is beyond Satan to use this type of deception? Can you see why no person can claim ignorance about God? Have you ever stopped to see the “attributes of God” in creation, including His eternal power and Godhead?
Application: Mankind has been conditioned, and deceived, into believing that “science” has authority and supremacy over “religion”. It is a materialistic mindset that puts man’s ability over God’s. We have this underlying notion that God’s Word is only true, if man canNOT prove otherwise through “science”. TRUE science is the observation, testing and evaluation of that which ALREADY EXISTS. “Science” becomes a RELIGION when you try to use it to prove how things came into existence in the first place. You can’t “observe and test” CREATION… because by necessity creation has to occur FIRST before “science” can be performed.
Creation proves the existence of a Creator. God’s attributes and power are on clear display for any human who is interested. Every person who spends eternity separate from God, does so by their own choice.
James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)
- What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?
- What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?
- What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?