Romans: Pagans Worshiping Idols

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1: 18-21)

Before Paul discusses faith and God’s righteousness, first he must discuss the evidence of man’s sinfulness.  He begins by probably referring to the Gentiles.  They had never had any direct revelations of God like the Jews had, but they still had the evidence of creation.  Paul is making a big claim: all creation has knowledge of its Creator.  Although the Gentiles never had the law of Moses, God’s moral code was still manifest in them.  They still had access to God and the choice to glorify Him as God.  Like all men born into sin, however, instead of glorifying Him, they became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened.    

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man - and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.  Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen. (Romans 1: 22-25)

Instead of worshipping God, they worshiped idols.  The heart of the matter is, well, the heart.  God is after our hearts.  As numerous verses throughout the entirety of the Bible say, He wants ALL our hearts.  But our hearts tend to be adulterous.  We begin to stray from the Creator and begin to lust after the created things.  We worship a significant other.  We worship money.  We worship ourselves.  We profess to be wise but become fools.  We change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man…we exchange the truth of God for the lie, and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator. 

Now I just twisted Paul’s words from the past tense to the present tense.  But let me ask you, don’t believers still do the same things sometimes?  Who here can honestly say they have worshiped God with all their heart, soul, and strength since being saved?  I can’t.  Paul is probably referring to the history of the immoral pagans but it is just as applicable to all humanity today as well.  At a heart level, I still struggle with worshiping and serving the Creator rather than the created.