Views from an Evangelist

Romans 1:21 tells us what unbelievers ultimately do to lead themselves down the path of destruction:

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.”

Two items: they did not honor or give glory to God or give thanks in essence to Him.

Verses 18 – 19 tells us man knows God exists and that his actions suppress the truth:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

Their actions of unbelief consistently suppress the truth; Paul tells us in Romans 6:19 that if you submit your members to sin you will become a slave of sin.

“For just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness,…”

These unbelievers consistently submit themselves to unrighteous actions which lead to not glorifying God or giving Him thanks. As Paul says about them, our enemies, in Philippians 3:19, “whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things..”

They worship the creature rather than the Creator. Again, they do know honor God or give Him thanks.

Paul also says in Romans 8:5 – 8:

⁵ For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷ because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸ and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Further in Romans 8:12 – 13

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

See, unbelievers follow after the world, they satisfy their lust of their eyes, lust of the flesh and their pride of life. All of these lead the unbeliever away from glorifying God and giving Him thanks. The road is straight, there are no deviation and their end is destruction.

A final declaration on the severity of not giving thanks to God or honoring Him.

Romans 1:28-32: “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper, ²⁹ people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful; ³² and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.”

Do you give thanks to God? Do you honor Him? Or are you worshipping the creature? Knowing God is a great joy leading to giving of thanks to Him. Perhaps you have never considered completely that your actions that suppress the truth are leading you further from God and to your ultimate destruction. Is that what you want? God always hears the cries of people who call upon His Name.

If you truly desire to turn from the pathway of destruction then call upon the Name of Lord Jesus Christ today. Cry out “Lord have mercy upon my soul; deliver me from my idolatry of worshipping the creature, from not honoring Your Father nor giving Him thanks. Lead me into His presence and grant me the great gift of salvation. That I might be granted to joy of knowing Him and giving Him thanks.”

Contact me today if you have called upon the name of the Lord today. Hope to hear from you.