For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18(ESV)

Definition of CONSEQUENTIALISM
: the theory that the value and especially the moral value of an act should be judged by the value of its consequences

One of the amazing things about the word of God is it’s relevancy to “right now“, no matter what time in history “right now” is. His words are for all time. The book of Romans is no exception, it goes into detail about the consequences of dismissing our Creator. A Creator who grieves over His hard-hearted children; who longs to have a relationship with them, and for them to be a part of His glorious kingdom, right here, right now. Grievously, man has been deceived by sin, which blinds them and keeps them from the goodness and loving-kindness of the true and living God.

To get to the relevancy of Romans to our time, a little groundwork must be laid. First of all–why was man created? Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, fearfully and wonderfully made, the crown of all that the Creator created, and given the opportunity to be an integral part of the Holy, Majestic, Everlasting Kingdom of God; to experience the indescribable love of God; to have a relationship with God, and to be a part of the expanding family of God. Taking why man was made into account, it would make sense that if men go the opposite direction of his purpose, then restlessness would set in; no peace or satisfaction for his soul, an emptiness…. When we go away from the Lord and act like He doesn‘t exist, we experience this restlessness in many ways. God will sometimes let us have what we think we want, which is to do our own thing and be our own Lord, or tragically follow a created God vs. the uncreated, uncontrollable God. The consequences of rejecting God is this; He turns us over to our own wicked hearts to help us to understand some things; that it’s His grace and power that held and holds us together; that it’s His grace and power that protects us from the vileness of our own hearts, which in turn, reveals our true dependency on Him. When we see the depths of our own personal darkness(individually and nationally), God wants us to humble ourselves; lay aside our wicked pride, and acknowledge that we are on the wrong path.

When God turns us over to our own hearts, it’s like He is saying to us, “Is this what you really want? I’ve been loving and blessing you though you were unaware, here, have what you want, have a taste of your own vileness. Foolishly reject the light, while darkness takes over your mind. See how you really are when you reject me.”

Our conscience, knowing right from wrong, takes note of how wrong we are and condemns us. We feel the guilt of our own iniquity, because deep down we all want to do good. That’s why the murderer and rapist shakes his head in disgust towards the child molester. That’s why children light up when you praise them for doing good. It’s a deep desire in all of us that can’t be truly attained without the grace and guidance of God‘s Holy Spirit through Jesus. God is crying out in His longsuffering and saying, “Taste of me and see that I’m good! There is only one way out; it’s perusing a relationship with Me. Otherwise, stay in the law of sin of death, bound up by your own fallen nature! True freedom is in the law of life IN Christ Jesus! The law of life in Christ Jesus is the only law that obliterates the law of sin and death!”

SUPPRESSING THE TRUTH

How, in our stubborn rebellion, do we stay in this darkness; how do we stay bound up in the law of sin and death?—- We suppress the truth. We can suppress the truth in such a way that we can provoke the wrath of God. I will cover a few of a myriad of ways that we suppress the truth, and the real reasons behind the accelerated deterioration that is happening in our nation.

EVOLUTION

One of the most wicked ways that modern man suppresses the truth is through the teaching of the “Theory of Evolution“. This false teaching suppresses the truth of the origin of creation, and says everyone and everything came about by a lucky random combination of chemicals. This theory is taught as fact in every public school even though it goes against proven scientific laws and truths. Many scientists who just want the truth, have much to say about this theory:

“At the core of evolutionary theory is the big assumption that life somehow arose from non-life, that by pure chance the right chemicals happened to be in the right place, in the right arrangement, at the right time, under the right conditions, and by some mysterious, unknown electrochemical process — POOF — life created itself! This assumption is completely contrary to a universally accepted and proven law of science, known as the second law of thermodynamics, which states that “All processes (left to themselves) go toward a greater state of disorder, disorganization, disarrangement and less complexity.”4

In other words, inanimate matter never increases its own order, organization or complexity–these always decrease! And even if the elements could arrange themselves into a certain definite pattern, as is necessary for life, they could not make themselves a living cell because LIFE is not a mere physical arrangement of chemicals! The likelihood of this happening is so far-fetches that Princeton University Professor of Biology Edwin Conklin has said: “The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of the unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing shop.” (Deeptruths.com)

“Evolutionists claim to rely only on natural forces, but natural forces cannot design and build new plants and animals. So they add magical thinking, the perfect description of the evolutionist mind.” (New Geology)

Also–

Zombie Science
“Although the classical ideal is that scientific theories are evaluated by a careful teasing-out of their internal logic and external implications, and checking whether these deductions and predictions are in-line-with old and new observations; the fact that so many vague, dumb or incoherent scientific theories are apparently believed by so many scientists for so many years is suggestive that this ideal does not necessarily reflect real world practice. In the real world it looks more like most scientists are quite willing to pursue wrong ideas for so long as they are rewarded with a better chance of achieving more grants, publications and status.”

To say “that the theory is phoney, and always was phoney, and this is why it so singularly fails to predict reality is regarded as simplistic, crass, merely a sign of lack of sophistication. And anyway, there are… the reputations of numerous scientists who are now successful and powerful on the back of the phoney theory, and who by now control the peer review process (including allocation of grants, publications and jobs) so there is a powerful disincentive against upsetting the apple cart.”

“Zombie science is science that is dead but will not lie down.” “Zombie science is supported because it is useful propaganda. Zombie science is deployed in arenas such as political rhetoric, public administration, management, public relations, marketing and the mass media generally. It persuades, it constructs taboos, it buttresses some kind of rhetorical attempt to shape mass opinion. Indeed, zombie science often comes across in the mass media as being more plausible than real science.”
Charlton, Bruce G. 2008. Zombie science: A sinister consequence of evaluating scientific theories purely on the basis of enlightened self-interest. Medical Hypotheses, Vol. 71, pp. 327-329.

And–

Darwin is liked by evolutionists because he liberated science from the straitjacket of observation and opened the door to storytellers. This gave professional evolutionists job security so they can wander through biology labs as if they belong there.
— David Coppedge
Speaking of Science, Creation Matters, May/June 2003

Why is this theory so wicked? Because creation is God’s handiwork and it reflects directly upon Him. It is a living testimony to all men of God’s greatness, majesty, power, and glory, and will naturally inspire and raise the heart of a man to seek the One behind this glorious creation. Paul eloquently states in Romans 1:19-20 and David states in Psalms 19:1-4 the truth.

19They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God..(ESV)

1The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world. (NLV)

Sadly, evolution is a Billy club that is used to beat down the truth; it is used to suppress the truth that this amazing creation was made by an amazing Creator and it all leads to Him. This suppression is very wicked in the eyes of God to the point of invoking His anger.

DEFINE BABY

Another diabolical way that the truth is suppressed deals with the definition of a human baby in the womb. Clearly, a fetus is without a shadow of doubt a unique, one of a kind, human baby, in his or her early stages of life. It’s without question a body within a women’s body. To say that the baby is just another part of the women’s body goes against unchanging empirical truth. The following is just one of a myriad of facts that a baby is not a part of a women’s body.
The most common however, is harm to the spine due to a traumatic accident. viagra in india online And no matter how hard some men might try, they see their male member as an extension generic levitra without prescription of their manhood. Trial and error treatments commander viagra click here for info may be expected for men who have undergone this. Shilajit & Gold combined together is a popular type of aphrodisiac that has been discount generic cialis efficiently done after intake of this solution.
An individual’s body parts all share the same genetic code. If the unborn child were actually a part of the mother’s body, the unborn’s cells would have the same genetic code as the cells of the mother. This is not the case. Every cell of the unborn’s body is genetically distinct from every cell in the mother’s body. Though it’s possible for someone to have a transplanted organ that does not share the same genetic code as the rest their body, that transplanted organ does match the genetic code of the original donor. The same can not be said of an unborn child. (Abort73.com)

A mother and father(many fathers have convinced mothers to abort their child) must suppress the truth to sooth their guilty conscience, otherwise, they must face the fact that they are murdering a human being in it’s most vulnerable state for the sake of convenience.

Suppressing the truth about abortion has helped mothers and fathers in America murder over 57 million innocent babies since it was legalized in 1973. God makes it clear that He hates the shedding of innocent blood.

16There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

God also makes it clear that He loves us and Jesus paid the price for ALL of our sins which includes abortion. Anyone can be forgiven if they put their trust in Him and sincerely call upon His holy name.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

DECEIVING OURSELVES

Although evolution and the fetus lie are two of the biggest attacks on truth in the West, I have to come back to evolution because the sickening roots of abortion can be found in evolution. Human reasoning may follow this path ,“If we are all here by accident mixed with some incredible luck, then what difference does it make if we eliminate a little life in the womb, there‘s no real purpose for it anyhow, it‘s just here. Since there is no Creator, we are not accountable to Him for destroying someone He loves.”

In America’s past, there has been tremendous Christian influence in all areas of life: from glorious Revivals, to sending missionaries to all over the world to preach the gospel. But as much as we may want to believe we are a Christian nation, there’s no way a Christian nation would teach its children that everything in nature evolved to what it is today instead of being created by a loving God. A child may leave school and barely be able to read, but in most cases they will know all about evolution.

CONSEQUENCES

Jesus is the truth; the truth is what sets us free; we must worship God in Spirit and truth. Truth brings goodness and life that our God wants us to be blessed with. If something tries to keep that truth from us, wouldn’t that, and shouldn’t that provoke the anger of God? Because of this suppression of truth by our sinfulness, God, in His holy righteousness is provoked. Romans 1:18 speaks of God’s wrath being revealed from Heaven against ungodly and unrighteous men who suppress the truth. If you skip down to verse 24, Paul reveals how God dealt with man’s(most likely pre-flood period) foolish decision to reject Him and the consequences that followed. There are three manifestations of God’s anger that Paul lists in Romans 1.

#1) 24 “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves….”.

“Lusts of their hearts to impurity” refers to all kinds of lewd sexual acts outside of marriage. Although all ages are sowing to impurity, kids are starting out young, deceiving themselves that certain sexual acts are okay as long as you don’t get pregnant. In reality, they are dishonoring their bodies by participating in immoral acts.

#2) 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

As a nation we are dealing with the ruling on same sex marriage. Christians are devastated that it has been passed by the Supreme Court and that all states must honor same sex marriage. Many proclaim that this ruling will destroy our nation. This is not the whole truth. Suppressing the truth of God through wickedness is destroying this nation! This ruling is no more than a symptom of the sin of rejecting God and His word. It is a result of people sinning and carrying on as if God doesn’t exist. The increase in people pursuing dishonorable passions is a reflection on the increase of men suppressing the truth about God! In His longsuffering and anger, God is handing more and more people over to their own vile and desperately wicked hearts. The hope is that people will see the depravity in their hearts; see the disintegration taking place in the land; cry out to God, and repent! God delights in showing mercy and wants to forgive and wash the rebellion and impurity and lawlessness away from us with the precious blood of Jesus!

#3) 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

The Merriam dictionary defines debase as:
1: to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character

The Holy Spirit goes even further and lists the lower character traits that God in His anger hands us over to.

29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

There’s really no need, unless you’ve been in a coma, to list how these lower character traits are accelerating in the hearts of people everywhere. Sadly, God is handing people over.

IN CONCLUSION

As devastating as it is for men to think they can tamper with the things of God like marriage and not face painful consequences, the root of this decision, and all ungodly decisions, is the suppression of truth by our wickedness. Evolution, abortion, are just two ways of how mankind has suppressed the truth of God for decades. The accumulating effect of all this suppression has provoked the wrath of God. The Lord, who is slow to anger and longsuffering, has come to a place where He is giving us up to, or handing us over to, our own mess in hope that we will despair, be appalled, and cry out to Him for forgiveness and deliverance. God delights in showing mercy and His grace is sufficient. He takes no delight in the punishment of the wicked. A cool bumper sticker sums things up:

NO GOD NO PEACE
KNOW GOD KNOW PEACE

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:37 NIV)

It’s not hard to see that this day and age is reflecting the wickedness of the days of Noah. Although these types of sins have always been around, the acceleration is truly a sign that Jesus is coming soon! Now’s the time to draw close to the Lord, find out what you are really suppose to be doing, then do it!