A Society of Fools
Devotional thoughts on Romans 1:28-32
Every morning when I get up, the first thing I do is check the headlines, and usually I don't want to see the news any more. This has been especially true in the last several months. I read an article in which Bill Nye the Science Guy, told parents that it was harmful for us to teach children Creationism since, science has so clearly shown us what really happened—yeah right. I never felt that the Bible was a science text. I saw where our nation is allowing and even promoting homosexuality, and I remember the violence in Connecticut just about ten days before Christmas. I see these things and words cannot express the emotions that run through my heart.
Some ask questions like; where was the God you worship? Why does He allow these things? I wrestled with this and have, I think found an unfortunate truth—unfortunate for man anyway. Let's look at Romans 1:18-32.
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For 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,21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools,23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:18-32(NKJV)
When I read this, it occurred to me that the truth is that we are living in a time that God told us was coming. When we realize that God has written all of scripture from cover to cover, we realize that the Apostle Paul wrote this passage as a dictation from God. We see what's happening around us and realize that God told us it was going to happen.
What Bill Nye and others have done, is replaced the creator with the creation. Our society has created an idol out of science and our own human mind, never realizing that what we call science is merely an interpretation, human interpretation, of what God has done. The fact that it is an interpretation by fallen man should ring out as a warning. My wife has a college roommate who was raised in a church, but since her "enlightenment" in college, she has become a Wiccan. She has begun to worship nature—the creation—rather than God—the creator.
In our society we have truly carried out what verse 22 says, "Professing to be wise they have become fools."
In Psalm 14 we read:
1The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
2The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call on the Lord?
5There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous.
6You shame the counsel of the poor, But the Lord is his refuge.
7Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
Psalms 14:1-7(NKJV)
Our society is beginning to fall into the trap. Look at Romans 1:22 and then look at Psalms 14:1. What do we see? In our movement toward "enlightenment," our society is becoming a society of Fools.
