His Eternal Power And Godhead
by David J. Stewart
"...when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." —Romans 1:21-22
Romans 1:20-22, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
What a precious passage of Scripture. The INVISIBLE THINGS of God from the creation of the world have been clearly seen by the things which are made. The Old Testament confirms this awesome doctrine in Psalms 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”
Notice the last phrase of Romans 1:20, “SO THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.” Oh my friend, you don't want to be on the Devil's side on Judgment Day when you have to give account of your life to God. The Bible says that NO ONE has any excuses. Certainly, people are going to blame-shift and make excuses anyhow, excuses and more excuses; but the Lord will order them cast into outer darkness and flames of torment in Hell forever (Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 20:11-15).
Romans 1:20 specifically mentions God's Eternal power and Godhead. I recently pondered over this Scripture in relation to prayer. Answers to prayer are of a spiritual nature, and are therefore not visible. When Daniel prayed and the Prince of Persia delayed the coming of the angel to answer, the archangel Michael had to come to fight against the Prince of Persia demon) to answer that prayer; yet, Daniel couldn't see what was going on in this spiritual battle (Daniel 10:12-14).
Likewise, we shouldn't expect our prayer life to be any different. When we pray, the spiritual gears to turning and the power of God begins to work in unforeseen ways to the human senses. These are also the INVISIBLE THINGS which Romans 1:20 speak about, which are seen by the things which are made. Pray and then sit back and trust upon the Lord, for that is exactly what He wants us to do (Philippians 4:6-7; 1st Peter 5:7-8).
I marvel that there aren't more people concerned over their eternal soul's wellbeing. I think about myself as a mere pile of flesh, some meat grown over a bunch of bones. That's all we are as human beings. I sometimes picture people while they're walking or sitting as skeletons. I try to imagine their skeletons moving with no flesh, because they are indeed flesh-covered skeletons. If you've ever seen a skeleton in a grave, then you know what all humanity eventually becomes. Dust shall return to dust, and ashes to ashes when they cremate your body (or bury it).
Burials are super expensive these days. Some people want to be cremated because they fear being mentally conscious in their coffin. I can understand that type of fear of the unknown. God understands. If you are a child of God, then rest assured friend that the Lord Jesus Christ has PROMISED not to disappoint you. I love that word, PROMISED. 2nd Corinthians 5:8 says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Amen!
“As a blind man has no idea of colors, so we have no idea of the manner by which the all-wise God perceives and understands all things.” —Isaac Newton (1642-1727)