Reflections on Sin
Written for personal thought, shared with you in hope to encourage. May Christ do what he may and let his name be glorified in all I do.
Romans 1: 21-25 “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. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
I count it no small thing, that my offense put my savior on the cross. I hope to set my mind on the offense and let it never leave me. Not as a way to remember what’s behind but to glorify what’s ahead. May my reflections keep Christ forever in my sight as most valuable and may it keep me constantly hopeful in the day of his return. What I deserve and what Christ has given me are miles apart. All that I am is by his grace.
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God…”
I notice first, that they know God. (The beginning of verse 21) This eliminates all assumed atheist. I know many men who claim God is not real. It’s not that they believe this sincerely, but out of necessity. Though a man would have to drag them through the dirt to admit this. Thankfully the Bible admits what men can’t. So was the condition of my heart.
If I go back to verse 19, it says “God is plain to them.” Plain. Not hidden. Out in front. For all to see. But, not just to see.
I can’t expect that God has only made it for the men with eyes. Men who are not born with sight are in fact men who know God. Even so sight is not only physical. It’s not just plain by looking at creation, but I as a human am created.
My heart pumps blood. Do I make it do this? No. My organs are, right now working properly. Do I urge them on? No. My feet and hands are moving as I type this. I can wiggle my toes as I think and type. I am able to swallow. Clearing my throat. My eyes are blinking. Cleaning off my eyes in order to see this screen. Do I do each of these?
Man walks about in total forgetfulness of the fact that they control none of their inner parts. Indeed, I do as well. I find no amazement at the working that is in me or around me. Yet, all this is telling me, “God.” It’s plain. It’s amazing. It’s complex. It’s no accident. It’s not evolution. It’s God!
If I deserve the utmost of hells, it only has to start here. My complete neglect of the praise due his name for only this. I say “only” but in fact the complexity is belittled by that word. God is out in front or plain, and I take him for granted. Indeed, I forget him. I in fact looked around, saw God was real and said quickly, “I’ll do what I want.” This is wicked.
“give thanks to him”
Secondly, even now, my sinfulness is going to go deeper. I can’t expect a reflection like this to be fun.
Forgetting a holy creating God is bad, but, then there is added to that, unthankfulness. This is me knowing God is there and willingly not acknowledging he has given me everything. Even my morning breath. I can’t live without him. Literally. And yet, not a “Thank you” in the mouth he is keeping in existence. This is a deep evil.
Yet, people consider it rude among their own peers to not acknowledge a kind gesture done to them. I was taught “manners.” This was something of a cultural expectation. This is a wickedness! Man does not “deserve” politeness! He deserves less than a single breath! Yet, they demand it!
Indeed, they become angered at the slightest neglect of it! God be most outraged if he is belittled! And indeed, I have forgotten and belittled him with my unashamed negligence of thanks. The one who holds my life is least expected of thanks? But the man who is made demands it? What an outrageous thing! Let my soul die immediately and never be mentioned again in the heavens. May I never think I have only said “too many cuss words.” My evil is far more personal. May I never think that my offense is a small thing. I deserve hell.
“but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Thirdly, as I ponder my own sin, I must read these words and think of my constant self-reliance. I would have to even say that my own foolishness and stupidity is an offense. A grievance of a sin.
This isn’t innocent neglect. This is plain knowledge that is ignored and not welcomed. This is futile to the core. No light. No understanding. A mind that has rejected all truth. Seeking to be my own ruler. My own creator. My own boss. Outright anarchy! With no self reflection. It’s automatic. Right from the womb I felt this way. I didn’t even consider my condition until Christ awakened my heart.
The darkness of my own heart was from seeing God and covering my eyes and closing my heart to Him. What a fool. This is sin. Wicked.
What other outcome would be expected to come from such actions and rebellion as this? Only futile thoughts and foolish darkened hearts.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools
Fourthly, my sin has been one of pride. Living as though I have the answers apart from God.
This has made life very difficult for me in many ways. My self assuredness has caused great pain. It has put me in places that could have been avoided. It has made me hurt men and women who love me. Even betray them. Take good gifts that were given to me and spit on them. This is wicked. Deserving of the hottest of hells.
This is the second mention of “fool” here. I can’t help but think of the passage that says, “The fool says in his heart there is no god…”
God has every right to damn me. The honor and praise due Him has been robbed. By who? A pirate? A thief? Yes, me. A man no wiser than a rock. And even a rock wouldn’t dream of committing the offense I have committed.
“exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”
This is something that drives every man to his death. And so it should. Being dominated by stuff. Every craving and every lust. Dominated. Finding things more desirable than God. This is only the outer garment of all that is listed. It’s an outcome. It’s as though I saw the sun and instead demanded a match to keep me warm! It’s more foolishness!
I am utterly hopeless in my sin. To think that being “better” will make all this right before God, is more foolishness. This is only the first chapter of Romans and I sit here and my stomach aches. Not out of hopelessness. No, I have the righteousness of Christ. But it aches because I still don’t see the vastness of my offense. It’s to great to write.
Indeed, if I tell someone the gospel, I see instantly on their face that they count themselves “good.”
Who can count all that is against me without Christ? Can I do enough deeds? Can I not say certain things? Indeed, can I never have a malice thought?
I openly denied and rejected my maker. And I don’t even know the depths of what that means apart from what’s written. I know it cost God his sons obedience on to death. I can’t save myself.
Indeed, I should end with this thought:
Christ is all I can cling to. Without him I hang over a pit ready to receive me like the devil and his demons. All the jumbling and mumbling of “good” I think I can offer are like a grain of sand in space. I love Christ.
Reflections on sin from Romans 1: 21-25
Romans 3:23. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
May Christ be glorified in all I do. -David