Romans 1.28 Furthermore,
just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God
gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
– St. Paul
In Roman’s 1, Paul used the term: ‘God gave them over’ three times. I had to stop and think about
that: Why did God give them over? In the
world in which we live there is an order to things, and God never deviates from
His order. He gave mankind the gift of Freewill. And God never deviates from
His order.
When we think about why
the world was formed, and why people
were created, we could conjure up much speculation, but it really boils down to
this: God chose to. God desired to create
a race of beings with whom He could have fellowship and friendship. Why? Only
God knows.
Now, it appears, that even in God’s realm(s) there are
some who couldn’t understand or believe that God would do such a thing: create Freewill
mankind. But He did, and the way He did it was to offer to His creatures,
called humans, an offer of friendship. And He did all this with freewill: His
and theirs.
Well you would think that the creatures, marveled by His majesty
and goodness would line up to become God’s friends; clamoring to get a spot in
the friendship ring. But a seed of doubt
grew about God’s plan, and caused God’s creatures to question the merit of God’s offer. The
creatures chose, in their own freewill, to disbelieve God. So God gave them
over what they chose.
I know this must sound fantastical, but it is true; and we do live today in a world ruled by men with self-will. But that’s not the half of it, because to those who refuse God, He gives them what they want: self-will. And all that comes with it. Why!? Why would God do that!? Because God never forces Himself on anyone. Ever.
God didn’t create robots. What’s the point of that? God
could make creatures who’ll do and say everything according to His will because
they don’t know any different! And!? No, God chose to make us with freewill and
with free will comes the ability to
choose. So, we either choose to believe God – OR – He gives us over to what we
choose instead. We must be careful in what we choose, because of what we can either gain, or lose.
What gets me today is what
God gave them over to: In love, He gave them what they wanted: a life devoid of
Him. Life devoid of Him is what we have in our world today; and all that
goes with it. Things like: the degrading
of ... bodies with one another. Shameful
lusts. Every kind of wickedness,
evil, greed and depravity: envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice; gossips, slanderers,
God-hatred, insolence, arrogance and boasting; inventive ways of doing evil; disobedience
to parents; no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. And an unquenchable
thirst for more...
That is our world; that is what we have chosen. And God, graciously,
gives us over to what we choose. But it is not without an a counter-offer for
what He chooses. Life can be way different
for the better.
Father, You have
given us freewill and the ability to choose. May I choose what is right,
because I don’t like what is wrong. May I use my freewill to believe rather than
to doubt. Help me to freely share with others Your offer and may my life be
used to help them to see, that in You, they are truly free. Amen
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