I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.
Richard Dawkins
It is hard for me to imagine a life without God. And not in my lifetime have I experienced a situation wherein I considered myself an atheist. I agree with Frank Turek’s book entitled, “I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist”. An intelligent designer is a logical explanation when we look at creation, bodily systems, and moral laws. God’s print is seen in everything in the world. So Thus, having a point of you that the world evolved from nothing, which is an evolutionary standpoint, does not make sense for me.
History to Understand the Word of God
Romans is not a book but rather an epistle or a letter. Paul wrote the letter for the believers in Roman. Hence the title, the Letter of Paul to the Romans. Furthermore, this letter is one of the thirteen letters Paul wrote to different recipients. It was considered one of the greatest works of Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The purpose of the letter was to teach the Good News to the Roman Christians. Paul also did reprove the readers of their evil practices. Additionally, he did edify the good deeds that were in line with the will of God. And encourage them in their walk with Christ.
Bible Reading
Today’s devotional reading is from the Letter of Paul to the Romans 1:18-23. Please, read our recent devotional from the Book of Esther 1:1-12: What Do You Know About Your Heart’s desire?
Grounds on why you are guilty
On Judgement Day, each of us will either receive the wrath of God or His mercy. Christians are justified, through faith, in Jesus Christ. However, that does not mean you will not work out your salvation, received through Christ, with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). The lists below are the basis for why God will pour out His wrath to people. Paul pointed out three things why unrighteous people will be guilty on the Day of Judgement.
Suppressing of the Truth
First, they suppress the truth and lived in an ungodly and unrighteous way (Romans 1:18). I always have this memory of my Psychiatric Nursing class when the word suppression comes to mind. And this was the time when we learned about the different defence mechanisms of a human. Suppression means consciously pushing out unwanted thoughts, while repression is the unconscious process.
It is not like God is hidden, and we do not have the slightest idea of who He is. Everything we see around us is a manifestation of God (Romans 1:19). But people have ignored the existence of the source of truth, considered truth as relative. And have continued living in lies without being bothered by it.
Ungrateful and unglorifying God.
Romans 1:22 clearly explains the current people, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. When we disregard the truth, we become foolish. We think that we are right, but we are very wrong. When we acknowledge God, we walk in the light with Him. And when we do the contrary, we walk in darkness. Further, all our ways will not be guided and will be just evil continually (Genesis 6:5).
(Please visit the Weekly Insight: How To Worship And What Is Idolatry? Find Out. To see why we should be grateful and thankful to God.)
Creation of Idols
When you are a believer, it does not make you safe from what is about to come. Review Romans 1:23 when Paul said and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Are you guilty of these things? If yes, there is time to repent and turn from this evil deed. But if you still justify your ways, then all we can do is pray that it will not be late for your repentance.
Paul is not only talking about statues of wood and stone. He also means when people try to create a god in a way that is suitable for them. Or even highlighting one nature of God and disregarding the rest. Take in an instance, when we say God is love. Indeed, it is true that God is love. But that does not mean we can sin all we want because we know He is love and that He will forgive. This thinking is erroneous.
(Please visit another devotional on Love Thy Go With All Your Being. To know more about how God is Love and more.)
On tomorrow’s devotional (Romans 1:24-32), we will be talking about the consequences after you are found guilty of unrighteous conduct.
Reflection
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- How confident can you say that there is no God?
- Are you strong enough to stand on the claim that there is no God?
- Do you believe in a Triune God?
- Have you accepted Jesus in your life? Accept Jesus Now.
- Are you guilty of the three areas Paul pointed out?
- Where does your faith and source of truth lie?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, creator of all. We adore your name, and we thank you for giving us your Son, Jesus Christ. And that through Him, we are saved from the wrath that is to come. We ask for the Holy Spirit to inspire us every day not to be complaisant. But to work our salvation daily with the fear of you, Lord.
We believe you are the source of truth and that you have given us guidance about the truth in the scriptures. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we study your Words every day.
We pray in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
