Freedom to choose?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 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. 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. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:18–27)

This is a touchy topic and while this passage says much about God's wrath against sin, it is the “therefore” sentence that catches my attention. It makes me think of the various sinful ideas that I have had. Even though those described here were not true of my ‘before Christ’ life, what if God had given me up to those sins? What a mess my life would be now if He had done that.

My husband and I like mystery stories yet as we watch them, many are about people that God gave up to the impure desires they had, and those desires ruined lives, even to the point that the fictional characters committed murder. Sin is destructive.

Here, the Lord says it begins by suppressing what truths are known about God. He says ignoring God leads to making inanimate idols that have no sight or sense of the evil they want to do. This bypasses consequences and punishment, or so they are convinced and can do whatever they want without concern of negative results.

This passage is not about hell or eternal punishment, but points to the consequence of continued sin with no thought of results. Aside from immoral sex, even bank robbers and embezzlers don’t think they will get caught. 

Evidence of great sins is one thing, but even a child hides from mom to sneak a cookie from the jar or candy before supper. Without the sense of God caring for our well-being, sin becomes appealing, possible, desirable. Many a child does not believe the stove is hot. Mom said so but he touches it anyway.

In a discussion at Bible study last night, I mentioned that too many of us who have been set free from sin’s penalty still struggle with its power because we have “I trouble” that is so easy to excuse instead of admit and repent. God, in His grace, sent Jesus to die for our sin, yet it takes a life-time of being obedient and living for Him instead of giving in to those “I can do it myself” ideas. 

The horrific line that “God gave them up” explains much. Keep insisting on selfishness, whatever form it takes, and those who do are stuck with it. They will not change because without the power of God, they cannot change.

Jesus, the reality of selfish thinking hits the news each day because so many people turn from You and Your love to carry out what they want and wind up with that as all they get. Because of the love, peace, joy, and goodness of trusting You, I weep when I read and see those who say no to that mercy and yes to their own desires — then wind up in darkness because they refuse Your goodness.