Since God is fair and just, He makes sure that we are able to see and hear Him in some way. So we have no excuse. We all are able to make "educated" choices about which side we want to be on.
Often, when a person rejects God, God will allow their hearts to harden. It just might be that down the road somewhere, they will experience a huge wake-up-call.
Remember, apostle Paul was living in darkness until Jesus "lit up his world" on the road to Damascus. So Paul is not only being inspired by God to write these words, he also writes from personal experience...
(Romans 1:18-25) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
We are all enemies of God, until we become children of God...
(Romans 5:6-11) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
When we choose to be on God's side, we have victory over all evil, including Satan.
It is Satan and his demons who try to accuse and condemn believers. It is Satan and his demons who try to convince us that we are not worthy to be considered children of God. It is Satan and his demons who try what they can to separate us from God, but we must know that NOTHING will separate us from God!...
(Romans 8:31-39) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Meanwhile, because of their decision of disobedience, the nation of Israel has been given a "spirit of stupor" which darkens their eyes. It will only be during the Tribulation that they "wake up" and "see the Light"...
(Romans 11:7-16) What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”
9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever.”
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever.”
11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
Meanwhile, believers are to show love, which is putting on the armor of light. Our protection from evil is our obedience and love for Jesus...
(Romans 13:8-14) Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
In our strive to remain obedient, we must guard ourselves and our church/es from evil. Our hope is knowing that the God of peace will soon crush Satan...
(Romans 16:17-20) Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
From this we see:
- Satan and the demons try to accuse and condemn believers, and try to make them feel unworthy, and try to separate them from God's love (Romans 8:33-35)
- nothing, not even Satan, can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39)
- Israel has been given a spirit of stupor for now which prevents the nation from seeing until the Tribulation (Romans 11:8)
- our protection from evil is the armor of light, which is obedience and love of Jesus (Romans 13:12-14)
- the God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20)
Personal experience: the many years that I didn't forgive my younger brother for all the darkness that he had brought into my life while growing up, then brought a darkness into my personal grown-up life.
I finally realized that my hardness of heart towards my brother caused me to have unrealistic expectations on my husband and children and the close friends and family around me.
When I asked God to forgive my brother for me, not only did a weight lift off of me, but I immediately was able to truly love and empathize with my brother. And since that time, we have developed a wonderful brother-sister relationship!
Today's takeaway: God's love, forgiveness and grace brings light, joy and peace into our lives. Plain and simple...
(Romans 15:13) ...may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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