God Has Made It Clear

Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1: 19 – 21

Sometimes when I look around and see the beauty and mystery of creation, the goodness that exists in many hearts, and the powerful, glorious, loving nature of God, I am just amazed that there are so many people who can’t or won’t acknowledge His existence.

Or even if they think He might exist, they refuse to give Him the reverence He so deserves. Sadly, they have little time for, or interest in Him. They seldom think of Him, speak of Him, or worship Him. It’s as if they have blinders on, and they refuse to recognize the obvious signs of His presence in the world or in their lives. Even if they believe He might have created and sustained them, they fail to acknowledge His blessings or give Him praise.

It is almost as if they are saying, “God, I will put you aside for now, and maybe someday if I need you, or when I have a more convenient time, I might call on you; or when it is a better time for me to openly accept you without judgment from others, or a season when I don’t have to give up too much time and energy to you, I might seek you. But for now, I am just too busy and life is just too full of other demanding, more important things.”

How much our God is dishonored, neglected, His Son ignored and ridiculed, His blessings forgotten, and His loving Spirit resisted. Yet, there are so many who seem to always be searching for something to fill the void in their lives – some aspiration, pleasure, material thing, or some particular person they feel can make their lives happier and more fulfilling. And, they never find who or what they are looking for.

We know that there is only One who can fill that space and He stands ready and willing to do so, but their hearts reject Him, and they continue to search for some earthly answer. What peace, contentment, assurance, and love they miss without His presence.

How can they not see and believe that He is the one true God of the universe who cares for us and will provide for our needs? For we see Him in everything – in the unity and perfection of how the world was created and in how He sustains life through His sovereign love and power. No randomness in nature could create such total perfection and beauty. No accidental force could create loving hearts and minds full of wisdom and knowledge. The miraculous and glorious things of life could not happen by circumstance on their own. They occur because of a loving God who blesses us with His goodness and grace. His revelations have been made known and His presence is everywhere – if we will only open our hearts to see.

 Prayer

Our most gracious and loving God, we often wonder how anyone could look around at the earth, sky, and all of your creations without seeing your hand in everything. We thank you for the gifts of life, for loving family and friends, for all your many wonderful blessings, and for your saving grace. May the hearts and minds of those who don’t know you be opened to the possibilities of life with your loving presence. Amen