The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness...Romans 1:18.
Men (and women for that matter) who suppress the truth...suppress means to put down by authority or force; to restrain from a usual course or action. You know, the truth is in us whether we want to recognize it or not. Why? Because God created us and He IS The Truth but not just that, we are born WITH a conscience (the sense of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good). We KNOW we shouldn't do something but we suppress the truth and so it anyway. For example, the kids on the youth trip that have the desire to sneak out of their room KNOW they shouldn't but they suppress the truth and follow along with "the crowd" (that didn't happen but it is a great example); or what about the girl that wears the booty shorts and reveals all the good Lord has blessed her with KNOWS deep down it is a little inappropriate to wear but follows along with the "trend" the world has set and wears them anyway; or maybe the provocative picture a girl sends to a guy thinking "if he just saw what I had he would like me more" all the time knowing if she got caught, she would be so embarrassed because she KNOWS it's wrong.
I could go on and on with examples but the truth is, the truth is IN us but often we push it down to the bottom of our spirit so we can go on with our sinning. But you know what the problem with that is? We sin over and over and over without repenting and before long we become "calloused" to sin; it becomes easier and easier to sin without the "nagging" in our conscience. And then we accumulate so much sin in our life, we don't hear, see or feel God. Now God still loves and cares about us, but He doesn't hang around darkness because there is no darkness in Him.
As I wrote this, I began thinking about my very own life and how, for many years, I suppressed the truth. Not because I necessarily WANTED to, but because I thought a life living for Christ was dull and boring because of all the "rules and regulations" I was suppose to follow ("The Big 10"...you know, thou shalt nots). I mean who can realistically do ALL those right ALL the time?!? But then I finally got it through my thick skull, if I would just do the two greatest commandment Jesus said to do (love God with all our heart, mind and soul and then love our neighbors as ourselves), that would cover "The Big 10". If I will TRULY love God with all that I am, I won't want to lie or covet or steal or give false testimony, etc. And let's be honest, it's easier to do 2 "Do's" than 10 "Do Not's".
Until next time...
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