SCRIPTURE: Romans (NIV) 1:21 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. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
OBSERVATION: The Bible does not say they were wise, only that THEY claimed to be wise. They came up with their big ideas. They figured out all the possible explanations, except those that acknowledged God. They judged themselves to be wise, while, in reality, they had become fools.
Judgments cannot stand alone. Judgments are made on the basis of our knowledge of what is acceptable, or perfect. We know what is true, and we judge something as to how it relates to true. We know the need and we judge something at how well it meets the need. We have some concept of beauty, and we judge how well it meets that concept. Judging is never done on the basis of what is being judged alone, it is always done on the basis of knowledge or opinion already present in the mind of the one doing the judging.
APPLICATION: When we leave out the knowledge of God, we have no basis, no foundation, for making a rational judgment. Since God created all things, His character and purpose must be a consideration in all true judgment.
If we ignore the reality of God’s existence, His actions and purposes our judgments may appear wise to those who also ignore the reality of God. But in reality they will always be, and in the end prove to be, foolish!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, like the proverb says, “The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” I do not just want to know about you, I want to know you. What pleases you? What makes you smile? Amen
Pastor Leon
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