This narrow way

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” Romans 1:18

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” Romans 1:25.

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done.” Romans 1:28.  

Paul lays out a progression for God’s judgment here. First step is the suppression of truth. What does THE truth tell every man and woman? That they’re born with a sinful nature and that the only way to avoid eternal punishment is through repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for their sins. Watch a CNN panel discussion on religion and see how fast the Christian saying that gets shouted down by the 8 atheists who make up this “balanced” program. Or post it on social media and count the minutes until it’s deleted as  disinformation or misinformation. Say that at work and see how fast you get reported to HR and ordered to go to sensitivity training. Gotta nip that stuff in the bud, don’t you know. 

“Truth is nowhere to be found and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Isaiah 59:15.

Aka cancel culture.

“Exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” The literal translation of this is the lie. What is the lie? A denial of God’s very existence and his right to be obeyed. After the truth is suppressed, the knowledge of it diminishes to the point of ‘there’s no God at all. Why should I live by what he says? He’s just a myth anyway. I have a better way. My truth.’

Let’ stop here for a minute and, as a popular phrase of the day goes, unpack this. When truth is suppressed and the truth is exchanged for the lie, what are the inevitable consequences? Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year-olds. Why? There’s no truth, no God, nothing greater than me in this world. Add the discarding of Biblical knowledge and principles, no guidelines and guideposts for living. There’s just me and my truth. Young people look around and say, ‘Is this all there is? This is as good as it gets? Thanks but no thanks, I’m checking out.’ 

“Worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” Isaiah Chapter 44: 14-17 tells about a man who cuts down a tree. Half of the tree he burns to cook his meal and warm himself. The rest he uses to make an idol which he bows down to and worships. “He prays to it and says, Save me, you are my god.” V. 17. No acknowledgment of the God who made the tree and who sent the rain to make it grow. We’re no better today. Save the whales, save the snails, save the polar bears. Save everything but the unborn babies, they’re expendable. Throw in the religion of climate change which worships the created earth but not the Creator God and it becomes clearer. 

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done .” 

Depraved— non-functioning, unable to be reasoned with, unable to distinguish truth. The King James Bible used the word reprobate. Irrational, what we would call insane, with no hope of returning to sanity. Back to mental illness. Then there’s “gave them over.” Not words a country or a people want God to say to them or about them. A Greek judicial term used for a prisoner being handed over for the carrying out of his sentence. 

I don’t think there’s much question America has progressed to the point of the last stage. Insanity abounds. This country is under judgment. That’s the bad news. The good news is the Good News. 

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5.