"Truth or Consequences"

EPISODE 147

Choose God Over Yourself

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Our choices tend to define us. Who we are, what we stand for, and where our loyalties lie come from the decisions we make every day. And every choice has its consequences.

So as Paul begins his letter to the saints in Rome, he lays out a few of humanity's life-defining moments and the tragic results of these decisions.

Choose God or Impurity

"Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen" (Rom. 1:24-25).

We can accept that God is the powerful Creator of the universe — seen through the inexcusable evidence of nature — or we can reject him to follow our foolish ways (Rom. 1:19-21). But if we choose not to trust him, he'll give us up to our lusts and impurity. The choice is ours, but rejecting God comes with terrible consequences.

So, do you honor God, or are you the source of wisdom and authority in your journey through life?

Choose God or Passions

"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 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" (Rom. 1:26-27).

We can accept that God has authority over nature, or we can reject him to define our way of living. But if we choose not to acknowledge his natural order, he'll give us up to unnatural passions and practices. The choice is ours, but rejecting God comes with terrible consequences.

So, do you honor God, or are you too caught up in the passing pleasures of sin?

Choose God or a Debased Mind

"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. ... 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" (Rom. 1:28, 32).

We can accept that God has authority over our lives, or we can reject him to make up our own rules. But if we choose not to acknowledge him, he'll give us up to knowingly practice evil. The choice is ours, but rejecting God comes with terrible consequences.

So, do you honor God, or are you knowingly choosing and approving the evil alternative?

May God help us in our choices today. And let's honor him as the Creator with all authority over nature and our lives even today.