Seeing is Believing

I like to walk into the backyard at night. We don't have many street lights, so it's fairly dark back there. We have these two huge oak trees that tower over you, as to say they are much bigger than you. I enjoy looking up at their branches and looking past them to see the stars and, when it's out, the moon. In that quiet moment, God sets my mind on Him. This is where it usually goes...

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 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. (Romans 1:19-20)

God's eternal power and divine nature can be seen in all of his creation. He has shown it to us ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

In the above passage and through out the rest of chapter one through chapter three, Paul is making his case to the Roman believers that all of mankind stands condemned before God. Even if they have never heard the gospel before, they still are guilty because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. So they are without excuse. That's why Paul is so eager to go to the gentiles who have never heard the gospel. Paul knows that "just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Paul tells us in chapter 3:10-12 that "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

But there is hope. The scripture tells us in Romans 5:18-21

as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are all sinners and our greatest need is to be restored back into fellowship with a living God by repenting of our sins and believing in Jesus Christ. Our hope is definitely not found in ourselves, family, marriages, children, jobs, our stuff, etc. It is found in the one who was obedient and righteous. It is found in the one who absorbed the wrath of God, so that we may be called sons and daughters. It is found in the one who was resurrected from death and now sits at the right hand of God and whom all authority belongs in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

It is found in Jesus Christ!