Romans 1:18-23

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

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 a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Wuhan Shake

Have you heard about the “Wuhan Shake” yet? “Wuhan Shake” is getting viral as substitute to handshakes and cheek to cheek gestures of greetings, why?

Covid-19 or Coronavirus has scared many people. They are scared of infection or avoid infectious disease. Covid-19 exposed that ‘Fear of Death’ is very real.

Who is not scared of death? Should Christians be scared of death?

The Lord Jesus in Mark 16:15-18, ¹⁵“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Do you interpret that Christ expects all believers to experience these signs of miracles? The Lord gives each believer a unique spiritual gift. He may or may not give a believer the spiritual gift of to make miracles or spiritual gift of healing.

And from the first century Christianity, no recorded event that says, “All disciples had drunk deadly poison or had picked up snakes!” Right? Well, after Apostle Paul was bitten by snake, he survived. Maybe, similar events may have occurred, but they were not recorded or included in the Scriptures. Why not?

For sure, the Lord did not want believers to intentionally drink poison or hold a poisonous snake just to prove that they believed in Him. It’s a temptation.

Actually, a pastor died 7 minutes after a poisonous snake bit him. He held a snake to prove that Christ can save him from poison. Christ did not command us to show to people that we will survive if we intentionally play with snakes.

But when it is necessary or essential for the furtherance of His Kingdom, God will certainly save a believer when bitten by poisonous snakes.

Warning: If we have not heard directly from God, it’s better to be cautious.

As caution from transmitted virus, “Wuhan Shake” serves its purpose as gesture of warm welcome, for now. Coronavirus, natural calamities, or manmade disasters are warnings that nobody can stop God’s wrath. It’s plain and simple.

1. Plain

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

God’s disapproval for wickedness is biblical. God made it plain and simple.

There’s no secret about God’s wrath. He warned that eternal punishment awaits wickedness. Anyone who sinned will certainly be punished forever and ever.

After reminding his readers that the righteous lives by faith, Apostle Paul mentioned the Wrath of God. Why? Not just to remind the faithful to live by faith righteously but to make it plain and simple that the faithless have terrible choices.

No mankind can survive the wrath of God. What is this ‘wrath of God?’ It is the Lord’s anger, indignation, and vengeance against iniquities, transgression, or rebellion to His instruction. It is the Lord’s violent passion, ire, or justifiable abhorrence that results to punishment of the offender.

So, if God is love, why would He not just ignore, disregard offenses and forgive the offender. First, God does not contradict Himself. What He decrees, He fulfills. He decreed that the punishment of sin is death. He didn’t alter, amend or eliminate that, and every sinner is destined to eternal death or punishment.

Nonetheless, God loved us. He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to be crucified as payment for all our sins, and every person who believes in Him and what He sacrificed on the cross will have an opportunity to live with the Lord in heaven forever and not to be punished eternally in hell.

Calamity

A deadly tornado killed a number of people in Tennessee recently. Wildfire has damaged more than 25 millions of acres in Australia. Anytime, anywhere, a natural calamity or man-made disaster can victimize unsuspecting individuals.

There are many unavoidable, unpredictable, uncontrolled adversities that we may suffer in this world. They are practical reminders that no sinful mankind can be righteous enough to survive the ‘wrath of God.’ It is plain and simple but not everyone can accept it. Why? It takes faith to believe God and His warnings.

To believe or not to believe, nobody is exempted from God’s wrath. So, as believers, we are reminded that we should live our life by faith all the times, why? We do not know, nobody knows when a calamity or a disaster will strike us. We can be scared of the deadly coronavirus, but we can be careful also. Right?

To be careful of one’s health, it exhibits that we do not blindly live by faith.

Instead, we’ve got to keep praying and asking God for wisdom on how we may live our life by faith carefully, righteously as testimony of His grace in our life.

It says in Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

And in Ephesians 1:17, The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Godly wisdom is required to understand and apply a revelation from God.

Pray for wisdom for medical practitioners to find solution, antidote to fight the dreadful coronavirus. How about natural calamities? Can humans stop them?

We avoid them. With godly wisdom, we can choose where we may live. If you can choose, live where natural calamities cause lesser disaster. We don’t intentionally travel where there’s apparent threat for safety. Godly wisdom makes us decide righteously. Don’t test God, if He keeps you safe or secure.

So, how about missionaries who defied possible threat to safety or health?

Going to mission frontiers is dangerous. Make sure you’ve heard God’s calling very clearly, and that God wants you to go to missions. God’s grace is sufficient and keeps you safe until His purposes will be accomplished.

International or local, there is always a threat, even in our neighborhood. Ask for increase of faith to trust God. His power is more than enough for safety.

2. Power

²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

No sinful mankind has ever seen the Holy God and survived. Why? It only proves that God never value wickedness. The Lord is gloriously divine, sacred, holy and perfect. Like fire that destroys anything that cannot survive its heat, the wrath of God destroys imperfection and wickedness eternally.

By faith, we believe that God created the world and everything in it, natural calamities included. Tornado, earthquake, tsunami, storms, and blizzards remind us practically that there are things humans cannot control. Modern science and technologies can predict natural calamities but cannot stop them. Nobody can!

By faith, faith we believe God has caused violent calamities for humans to reflect upon. It says in Ecclesiastes 7:14, When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

We can either choose to believe or ignore it. By faith, we believe God. He does what’s best in His eyes. His power is available to all believers.  Believers are expected to tell others about the gospel of Christ, to testify of what Christ has done in our life. First, we have to receive God’s power through His Spirit.

It says in 1 Corinthians 1:24, To those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

If you received Christ as your Lord and Savior, God’ power is available for you. God’s wisdom is available for you. Pray that God will use your life as a testimony of His power and love. You’ll certainly experience more of His power.

People will have excuses and ignore God. Many believers have excuses and ignore His calling. By reasons and logic, we cannot completely believe God or understand His ways. By faith, we believe and are saved. This saving faith is God’s gift. It did not originate from mankind. So, ask God for increase of faith.

Overcome Unbelief

Before Jesus healed a boy possessed by spirit it says in Mark 9:21-24:

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

The father was not ashamed that he had little doubt of what Jesus can do. Jesus says that nothing is impossible for believers. The father wanted to see what Jesus can do. Without hesitation, he asked for help to overcome unbelief.

Similarly, when we sense doubt about the Lord and His love, most often, we ignore Him. We disregard when we hear His instructions for us. Pray and ask for His help to overcome unbelief. It is unbelief to ignore the Lord’s instructions. When faith is active, our attitude toward the Lord’s command is to obey.

Active faith in the Lord is obedience to His instructions and simultaneously reflects His love has effect in our life. It says in 1 John 2:3-6, ³ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Living by faith in Christ is imitating the lifestyle of Jesus. To live a holy and righteous lifestyle like Christ can only be possible with the help of His Spirit in our life. To live by faith is impossible with human sinful effort. But when we sense the prompting of the Holy Spirit to live righteously, we obey and praise Him!

3. Praise

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 a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

To praise God is to glorify and thank Him. Apostle Paul implied that is wise thinking to praise God. In contrast, to know God and not praise Him is futile and foolishness because it leads to foolish decisions and futile preferences in life.

As believers, we live our life not just to satisfy our curiosity but we prepare for eternity. Our decisions and lifestyle should help us store up eternal treasures.

Should animal rights gather much support more than the right of believers of Christ? What does it imply if it happens? Apostle Paul implies it as foolishness! Should church attendees spend much money for their pets but hesitate to give the tithes of God or offerings? What does it imply if that’s the case? Apostle Paul implies as choice of foolishness and not wise thinking before God.

When we put our faith in Christ, His Spirit reveals what lifestyle is righteous and not righteous in the eyes of God. He also gives us wisdom on how we may live by faith righteously instead of following unproductive patterns of this world.

Charles Stanley

Check your lifestyle, your hobby. Can it help you store up eternal treasures for yourselves? Many people know Dr. Charles Stanley as preacher, but did you know that his hobby is photography? Dr. Stanley loves to take pictures, and he uses those pictures for cover page of his books and pamphlets.

I assume that Pastor Stanley loves to praise God for wonderful creations. He may want to share to readers that we can have a hobby and still praise the Lord with it. What is it that you spend your time during light or free moments?

You do not need to be a preacher to be a photographer. You can be cook, gardener, fisherman, electronic or high technology enthusiast. You can use your high tech gadgets to record how you cook or bake and share online and earn too. You may love to beautify yourself, share how you do it online and earn.

My point is: Whatever we do, wherever God situates us, at home, school or office, our lifestyle should testify Christ’s transformative work in our life.

We testify of God’s grace and store up eternal treasures for ourselves too.

What is acceptable excuse of disobedience to the Lord’s instruction? It is by faith we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, and God sent His Spirit into our hearts. With Christ in our life, we’ve got godly wisdom to live righteously. Christ reveals to us also what and how we should live according to His holy lifestyle.

The Lord Jesus declared in Matthew 28:18-20, ¹⁸All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

By faith, we believe that Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth. But how do you sensed it if Christ is really present and actively transforming your life into holiness?  Making disciples is most practical proof of faith in the Lord. When we make disciples, we can personally sense Christ’s presence in our life.

Ask for increase of faith. Active faith is practically exhibited when we obey.

What is your excuse?

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