If they are all, am I not without excuse?

For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  Romans 1:19-25

Kate’s word for Five Minute Friday, which was three days ago, was {excuse}.  I think most of us saw the word and wondered if the word was intended to be: {excuse} as in “please excuse my child’s absence” or {excuse} as in “I have no excuse”?  Or maybe I was the only one who needed to ponder this word for several days before setting my timer for five minutes and write.

The only conclusion I have been able to come to is that God says we are all without excuse – that I am without excuse – if I do not recognize and honor and glorify and offer thanksgiving to God because of Who He is, The Creator, and who I am, the created.  His word in Romans 1 declares that He has made Himself known to me by all He has created.

I’ve been pondering my faith a lot lately.  As I zoom toward my 55th birthday, particular memories keep playing through my mind.  It’s as if Holy Spirit has put together a childhood memory book to remind me of all the times and places and people He brought into my life to reveal Himself to me.

I recognized at an early age I “just intuitively knew” things were true or not.  And I realized at a young age that someone was speaking to me in my dreams.  Now as I look back I recognize God had given me discernment, and He was teaching me about His presence in my dreams even though I really had no understanding or validation that He was God.

I am sure I had been to church and had probably heard about Jesus before the age of 9, however, it was then I found out I could choose to invite Jesus to live in my heart.  Guaranteed, if He lived in my heart by my spoken profession of faith and public baptism I would go live with Him in Heaven after I died.  I wanted that.  I did it.  I meant it.  And in my youth, I was sealed with the promised Holy Spirit and received the guarantee of my inheritance.

And then came the part of my life filled with excuses.  No one else is going to church.  Everyone else is doing this or that.  I’m a good person.  I don’t have to go to church to love God.  At least I’m not like them.  I haven’t done that… or this other thing.  I believe in Jesus I just have to work on Sunday.  I would go to church if the people were not such hypocrites. (5 minutes)

On and on I made excuses.  And for a season of my life, this was me…

For although (Lisa) knew God, (she) did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but (Lisa) became futile in (her) thinking, and (her) foolish heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, (she) became a fool and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for … the idolatry of her flesh.  (Romans 1:21-22 paraphrased as a confession of my own life)

Until I found myself deep in the pit of my own making… of my own foolish thinking… of my self-absorption… of my own desperate attempt to disappear from life because all I had chased after was meaningless.  God came to me once again in a dream as He had done when I was a small child.  He spoke to me of His great love for me, and His purpose and His good plans for my life if I would once again bend my knee to His authority as Creator – me the created.

I awoke and remembered all the times in the past when He had made Himself known to me.  He was God and He was speaking to me.  I had asked Him to live in my heart, wretched dwelling as it was, and could He still be there.  Surely He had moved out by now.  But no, He stayed and I had a choice to make…

I knew.  I recognized.  I confessed.  I bent my knee.  I was without excuse…

Ponders:

This idea of living {without excuse} has so impacted me the last few days I am now asking Holy Spirit if these are my words for 2018 into which I am to pray and seek wisdom for my life.  Perhaps 2018 is the year I am to live – eyes on Jesus – without excuse and learn practically on my faith journey how to walk it out.

• As you ponder the truth of God’s word that we are without excuse, what truth is highlighted to you?  What is your first inclination – first reaction to this scripture in Romans 1?

• No matter the atmosphere or culture in which you were raised, can you think of specific instances and the ways in which God made Himself known you?
• Are you living in the Light of God’s presence recognizing He is Creator and you are created?  Let us give thanks to God and let us give Him honor and exalt His name above all names.
• Have you exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator?  
  • Will you confess today before God that you are without excuse?
  • Will you obey the truth of Isaiah 55:6-7?  Will you:  Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake their ways, and the unrighteous their thoughts.  Let them turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
• How does this truth – we are without excuse – impact the way you desire to live your life today?  This week?  This new year coming up?

Eyes on Jesus… you’re shining!

~Lisa