“GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM!”

 Romans 1:18-25                             (ESV)

“[18] For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN, who by their unrighteousness SUPPRESS THE TRUTH. [19] For what can be known about GOD IS PLAIN TO THEM, because “GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM”. [20] For HIS invisible attributes, namely, HIS eternal power and divine nature, have been CLEARLY PERCEIVED, ever SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, in the things that have been made. SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. [21] For although THEY KNEW GOD, THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM AS GOD or give thanks to HIM, but they became futile in THEIR THINKING, and THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WERE DARKENED. [22] Claiming to be wise, THEY BECAME FOOLS, [23] and exchanged the GLORY of the IMMORTAL GOD for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

[24] Therefore GOD GAVE THEM UP IN THE LUSTS OF THEIR HEARTS to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because THEY EXCHANGED THE TRUTH about GOD FOR A LIE (John 8:44) and worshiped and served the creature RATHER THAN THE CREATOR, WHO is blessed forever! Amen.”

As I was reading the Scriptures this morning the verses above began SPEAKING to my heart.  The fact that some people are not exposed to THE TRUTH the same as others doesn’t make them any less/more guilty than others about their decisions to NOT HONOR GOD with their lives.  CLAIMING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS, and exchanged the GLORY of the IMMORTAL GOD and the earthly treasures “this world” has to offer!

We BELIEVERS are CHOSEN BY THE LORD, not because we are worthy, but because of HIS GRACE (2 Timothy 1:9) to fulfill HIS PLAN!  We WILL SUFFER while fulfilling HIS PLAN, but allowing HIM to word in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26) is a good sign that we are being used in HIS PLAN!  Worldly success that focuses on anything other than YAHWEH is rubbish that will be burned in the JUDGMENT!  

Our CREATOR is capable of things that our finite minds cannot fathom.  Just like we cannot understand how HE would use unworthy vessels like us, there are some who HE has CHOSEN not to use for HIS GLORY.  Romans 9:13 plainly states “As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.””  This same Jacob was known BY SOME as a deceiver!  One commentary says “Yes, Jacob was a deceiver. But deception is not always sinful. In this case, Jacob was the righteous deceiver. Along with the help of his mother Rebekah, Jacob deceived his father in order to uphold the covenant.”  

Now I am not saying that you should deceive others, but GOD uses our imperfections to GLORIFY HIS NAME!  When GOD is being GLORIFIED, HE uses what HE wills, and WHEN HE wishes!  GOD held the Red Sea back just long enough for HIS CHOSEN to cross, but then HE enveloped the Egyptians at the bottom of the sea!  One had better be cognizant to GOD’S PRESENCE while HE IS SPEAKING TO HIM, because “GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM”!  Has HE SHOWN IT TO YOU???