January 22, 2009

There Is No Excuse

“22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel [And] despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:22-33 NKJV)

There is no excuse for the heathen’s wickedness. They have all chosen to turn away from the obvious. They do so because they hate knowledge.

Knowledge is revealing. When it is sought, new perspectives are gained, and understanding increases. The problem is the lost man does not like what he sees, and he will not repent.

Therefore, he is driven to reject truth and fabricate his own theology to appease his threatened soul. Is there any wonder why there are so many religions in the world?

I have heard people ask, “With all these religions, how can anyone be sure which one is right?” Let me answer that question with a question. Which religion is different from all the rest? Christianity is different from all the rest in that it confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.

If the principle of rejection is true, then that which all other religions react to is the true religion. Of course, there are a thousand other reasons why Christianity is true, but this is something about which to think. Maybe this would be a good way to approach evangelism with some.

Nevertheless, the lost man is without excuse. Someday in the future, he will be rejected when it matters most. Not the saved however. If you will listen to the voice of God, and repent of your sins turning to God then He will set your feet on solid ground. He will be your helper in that time of great distress. We will dwell in safety and have no fear of evil. Amen.