We think of the heathen of the world in terms of their knowing little to nothing about God’s truth with regard to the only way to redemption–to salvation. This brings to the lips of some the accusatory rant that God is unfair. They accuse that He sends people to eternal punishment who have never heard the gospel.
But God’s Word tells the following about those in even the darkest regions throughout human history.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 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, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23)
In other words, mankind has no excuse because God reveals to all, no matter their uncivilized regions of the world and/or lack of information. God will never be unfair. All have enough inward information to know they need Him. When people instead carve out idols for themselves, they are deliberately rejecting the God who plants in the hearts of His creation called man the innate ability to know Him for their personal redemption.
The same is true of “civilized” heathen. I think of the Hollywood cabal who push God aside. They know Him, yet don’t know Him—that is, they don’t know Him as their Heavenly Father. They deliberately ignore and even, in some cases, cast Him and those who are Christians in derogatory roles.
Proof that they are made aware, however, comes through in the films they produce. We remember the Cecil B. DeMille movie, The Ten Commandments. It was quite accurate in its depiction of the Exodus account.
In Herman Wouk’s The Winds of War, the script writers had American naval officer Victor “Pug” Henry say something like, “Mankind is destined to kill each other in war until the Second Coming of Christ.”
The Hollywood people are aware that this fictional statement has played out in fact since World War II as murderous conflicts continue to this day. Killing in war is prophetically scheduled to become even more prolific as time moves forward toward Christ’s Second Advent. All of humanity’s interaction points starkly at Heaven’s foretold intervention into the affairs of mankind.
Hollywood was and is thoroughly aware of Jesus Christ and His coming again. They are without excuse.
There are no people on earth more under God’s assessment of being “without excuse” than the people of the United States.
There are churches on many corners of most cities. There are means of communications that pour out the gospel message every hour of every day. There are so many Bibles that it is the most published and sold volume ever in America and the world. Yet, it is probably one of the fewest read and studied.
But it is not only America that comes under God’s condemnation of being “without excuse.” Europe has long ago shut down most of its churches. Many are merely now museums for tourists to photograph while on vacation.
The results of this dismissal of Heaven’s authority are blatantly obvious in all the world, not just in our country. As pointed out in recent commentaries, Paul’s words tell of the foolhardiness and results thereof regarding people who turn their backs on the God who created them.
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 1:28)
Can there be any argument of substance against the proof that the Creator has turned this generation of God-deniers over to a “reprobate mind”?
The things we have witnessed in recent years offers evidence that would convict in any sane court of justice.
Government and the ideological left claim everything we do must be to protect the most innocent—the children. Regulations of every sort—in food production, medicine, and other such things—are in large part for children. Proposed gun control is so that the children can live happy and, above all, safe lives.
Yet that same government and leftist, hypocritical ideology declares it is their right to slaughter babies by the millions while still in their mothers’ wombs.
This, folks, is what qualifies as a prime example of what the God of Heaven calls the “reprobate mind.”
And we could go on and on telling things like teaching kindergartners about adult sexual activity, about letting porn-star transvestites who commit the most disgusting acts in film come before children as young as five to teach them about their abominable lifestyles.
So, mankind is without excuse. And all who do not know the Lord Jesus as Savior will suffer eternal condemnation because of their unbelief. Thus, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither was thankful.”
You, I—we all are without excuse. We all must come to Christ, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No person comes to the Heavenly Father but by Him (John 14:6).
Here is how you can make sure you are not under the condemnation “without excuse”:
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)
