From Light To Darkness

…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 

Romans 1:21-23 

Contrary to the popular myth that through the evolutionary process humanity is ascending to greater heights, the reverse is actually the case. God created humanity in His Own image, gave them the simplest of instructions and allowed them to make choices based on their perception of someone else’s interpretation of His motives. From that point onward, it has been a long downward slide. Although the various cycles of history have exhibited their apexes and nadirs, giving at various times the impression of progress, the overall linear movement has been downward not upward. Our text, and the subsequent passage describes the devolutionary process. Thus, Paul describes the course of human history in our text. We have stopped for today at the point of his description of humanity’s descent into idolatry. God is a Spirit. Because He is, He desires those who worship Him to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Thus, idolatry is evidence of degeneracy. Sadly, if we follow the rest of Paul’s narrative, it gets worse. Christ is the only answer to these things. Riots, reformations, and reorganization are not going to alter this slide. Christ is the only viable solution. Paul is building his case so that by the time he introduces justification by faith in Christ, everyone will be clear about why He is so critically important. We face the truth about ourselves, and we fly to Christ.  

Our Great God and our Savior, 
we rejoice that You have seen us in our lowest state. 
We praise You that in that place of darkness, 
You have sent us Christ. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning