PRAISE THE LORD — OR ELSE

In creation, the Lord has begun to reveal Himself to us so that we have reason to glorify and thank Him (Rm 1:20ff). However, we can play stupid by playing the role of an atheist or an agnostic. We can pretend to be wise by "speculating to no purpose" (Rm 1:21ff). When we refuse to act on the truth by praising God, we naturally praise something else and fall into idolatry (Rm 1:23). Then the Lord delivers us up to "unclean practices," such as homosexual activity (Rm 1:24-27). "They did not see fit to acknowledge God, so God delivered them up to their own depraved sense to do what is unseemly" (Rm 1:28). If we refuse to acknowledge God, we begin a chain reaction in which we "are filled with every kind of wickedness: maliciousness, greed, ill will, envy, murder, bickering, deceit, craftiness" (Rm 1:29). And this is only the beginning (see Rm 1:30ff).

Therefore, we must acknowledge God and praise Him. If we are ashamed of the gospel (Rm 1:16), Jesus will disown us before His heavenly Father (Mt 10:33). But if we acknowledge Him before men, we will not enter the path of idolatry, defilement, and wickedness, and Jesus will acknowledge us before our heavenly Father (Mt 10:32). Praise the Lord!