It’s helpful to remember Paul’s first audience are Gentiles, many of whom are familiar with the pagan lifestyle Paul describes. Paul grabs their attention by pointing out that these behaviors are sinful and not approved by God. As new believers in Jesus, Paul is clear on what happens when people choose to turn their back on God.
Have you ever encountered someone who didn’t believe in God? Maybe you have had your own doubts before. Paul suggests that it is impossible to not know the truth about God because we witness creation and can’t deny there must be a creator. Unfortunately, people are still in denial about God no matter how obvious it is.
This passage exposes the truth on so many levels. One that stuck out to me was how people are quick to put their trust in God’s creation and not God himself. For example, have you ever heard someone say give credit to the universe for something that happened to them, or that they are trusting the universe to make it right. The universe. God’s creation. Just as Paul said, “So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!”
I can’t even imagine what it must be like for God to be ignored but see his created things receiving the honor. Our Creator God deserves our praise. His mercies never cease. His grace is sufficient. His love has no boundaries. We can’t begin to fully fathom the omnipotence of God. Paul calls out those people who mistakenly try to explain God or put limits on him.
God wants to be known, but on a level so much deeper than foolish people can comprehend. The prophet Jeremiah in his speech about hopeful restoration in Jeremiah 31:33-34: “’But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord. ‘I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, “You should know the Lord.” For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.’”
Paul clearly tells us what happens when we turn our backs on God and ignore his authority. It’s frightening. God lets us go on our sinful way, free to make choices that are contrary to his will, his perfect design for our lives. Those that run away from God may never know what they are missing out on. That’s tragic, isn’t it?
Paul did his best to share the consequences of sin with the Roman audience. It sounds like many of the same shameful behaviors were happening then as well. That tells me that foolishness has no end, and that Satan does a great job of deceiving us about the truth. In today’s world, Paul would be called a hater, or worse, and would be ridiculed for being closed minded. From what we now of Paul’s calamities, people weren’t always his biggest fan back then.
Like Paul, we need to stand firm, knowing God as our Creator, Friend, and Guide. God’s desires for us remain in our best interest, whether we know it or not. I’ve heard it said that many of us will never live the life God would have chosen for us if we had taken the opportunities he laid before us.
Not only do we have nature to use to get to know God, but we also have his Word. The Bible guides us in so many ways. For how it reveals God and his character to us, we are over the moon. What a gift, and honor, and a privilege it is to know God. Now it’s our turn to make sure others know Him, too.
Let’s pray. Lord God, I want to know you more. Reveal yourself to me. Forgive me for times when I have been more interested in your creation and putting trust in the wrong places. You are my Maker, my Redeemer, and Friend. I am so thankful for each word you have written to help me know you. Use me as you see fit to help others to see you, too. I pray for those who are lost, choosing something other than you to trust. I pray they find you and seek to draw close to you, too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
