Without Excuse

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 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. Romans 1:18-20

Let me take a moment to explain these verses of scripture and how they may relate to you. Did you notice that the passage stated that men "suppress the truth"? What exactly does that mean? To supress carries the meaning of pushing something down. What is this truth that men push down and purposely ignore? It's the knowledge God has put in every human being that there is a creator.

Let me ask you a question. Is it wrong to steal? Is it wrong to murder? Universally among all cultures of the world these things are known to be wrong. Even by those societies that regularly practice such things. God has placed in us an acute awareness of right and wrong that genetics or evolution cannot explain away. Listen to your conscience, It screams that there is a God.

This portion of scripture also states that all men intuitively know two things about God.

1. The very exisience of God.

2. The power of God.

We know by looking at creation and observing that it has divine design that it was created, and that the creator is powerful. WhatIf you had never seen a watch before and someone showed you one? Would you reason that it was formed over billions of years or would you surmise without even knowing the maker that this object was created by a maker? If you are an honest person, you would admit that an object of that design would be absolute proof of a maker. In the same way creation, in all it's complexities is absolute proof for a creator.

Take that same watch smash it into a thousand pieces. Put the pieces in a box and shake that box for a million years. Open the box again. What are the chances that after a million years that the watch would be put back together perfectly? That sounds foolish doesn't it? Our universe is so much more complex than a watch and yet many people believe that it got here by chance.

Here are some final things to think about. Because God has revealed himself to you through conscience and creation, you will stand before him one day without excuse. One day you will stand in God's courtroom. You may think that you have nothing to worry about. After all you've never murdered anyone right? What if I told you that God's standard is so high that he even considered hate to be equal with murder? (1John 3:15) What if God viewed lust the same as he does adultery? (Mathew 5:27-28) Have you ever lied? What do we call people who lie? Liars right? Isn't it true that if we are honest that we are all liars, thieves, adulturous murderers at heart? Be honest. Listen to your conscience.

The good news is that while we are guilty, God sent Jesus Christ to pay our penalty. The Bible teaches that the penalty is death. (Romans 6:23). You see you broke the law but Jesus paid your fine. (Romans 5:8). He did this by being born on this earth, living a sinless life ,sacrificing himself on the cross, and being raised from ther dead. Read Mathew, Mark, Luke or John in the Bible to read about his story.

Just knowing this doesn't help you though. You must respond in faith. If you will repent (turn from) of your sin, and call upon God to save you, he will. (Luke 13:3, Romans 10:13). Don't wait, you wil one day stand before God without excuse.

Do you have more questions? Disagree with something I've said? Want to know more? We'd love to hear from you.

Charles Lowry