Romans 1:21, Saving an Unthankful Generation

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Romans 1:21 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.

When God created the universe, the earth was the focus. When God created the earth, man was the focus. Man was created only after God had prepared a most habitable paradise for his enjoyment. God placed man in charge of His creation. Only man is made in the image of God, not the angels nor the animal kingdom. Man has the capability to reflect the character and attributes of God. What is God? The Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.” In a limited way, man reflect God in His attributes. This is man’s greatest blessing, to be partaker of God’s nature. Indeed, the man who acknowledges his Creator, is a blessed man.

The Chinese character for blessing is called “Fu”.            Fu   If you would analyse and dissect the character, the left radical is the shortened form of the radical for “God”. The right radical of “fu” begins with “one” written “One”. The radical for “mouth” “Mouth” signifying a “man” and the radical for “farm” “Garden” signifying the “garden” . The pictorial message is that the man with God is true blessedness.

Man made in the image of God ought to acknowledge and give honour and praise to God for all that He has blessed him. Instead, in his sinful estate, filled with an ungrateful spirit, he is a murmurer and complainer. Instead of acknowledging the God who made him, his vain imagination is given over to futile philosophies and conjectures of other gods.

God gave Egypt the Nile River. It was the source of life for the Egyptians. Instead of acknowledging God as Giver of the Nile, the Egyptians in their foolishness worshipped the Nile and a host of other idols. When God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt, it was meant to awaken them to worship the living and true God who is the true Giver of all things.

God brought Israel into the wilderness so that they may establish true worship, away from the idolatry of the Egyptians. God instructed them to build the tabernacle and the 12 tribes are to encamp around the tabernacle. When they looked inward, they saw the presence of God in the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, symbolic of God’s care towards them. When they looked outwards, they saw the darkness and the barren wilderness. This is a frightening perspective outside the protection of God.

Thank God for opening our spiritual eyes to acknowledge Him. May we be ever thankful and grateful daily for the richness of His blessings upon us. May we be willing to share the blessing of the gospel with someone today. Amen.