Rejecting the Truth

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. (Romans 1:26-28)

When people abandon God’s truth, they also abandon His protection and power. Paul says that God gave them over to the consequences of their actions. Notice that He didn’t send it to them. He didn’t attack them with it. He gave them the right to suffer the consequences if they wanted to keep going in that direction. He went directly into talking about homosexual relationships and improper relationships. Paul explained to the churches in Rome that this was a distortion of natural human relationships. When people turn away from God, even the natural order He established is perverted. Paul mentioned how both women and men exchanged natural relations for those contrary to God’s design. We see this paraded in every TV show and movie that comes out now for kids or adults.

But maybe the worst part about this passage is the danger Paul depicted of having a reprobate mind. That’s a mind that no longer can tell the difference between good and evil. If you continue in sin long enough, you stop being sensitive to the fact that what you’re doing is wrong. That’s a dangerous place to be because we then open ourselves up to deception, darkness, and death.

Practical Application

Guard your heart and mind against the enemy's lies. Decide to only agree with what God says is true in His Word. Do not let anyone deceive you with emotional ploys or politically correct doctrines. Decide that you will only accept the truth. And the truth is only found in the Word of God.

Ephesians5:4; Proverbs 1:7