Rebels without Excuse

KEY VERSE: “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.” —Romans 1:20

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Romans 1:18-32

THE great God of all creation is so far superior to man that of necessity he is invisible to human eyes. “No man hath seen God at any time,” the Scriptures declare.—Col. 1:15; I Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:27; John 1:18

Moses was a very devout servant of God, and was anxious to see his glory. In response to this desire God said to Moses: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee … but my face shall not be seen.”—Exod. 33:19-23

The Bible refers to many gracious qualities of the Creator’s character, such as his mercy, patience, and so forth; and four of his cardinal attributes are particularly stressed. These are his wisdom, justice, love and power. “God is love,” the Bible tells us. (I John 4:8,16) God loves the sin-cursed and dying race of mankind. He loves his fallen human creatures so much that he sent his beloved Son, Christ Jesus, to die for them.—John 3:16

God is also just. We read concerning him, “Justice and judgment are the habitation [margin, establishment] of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” (Ps. 89:14) While God is just, he is also merciful; and his mercy and love provided redemption from sin through Jesus; so these attributes of the Creator’s character are harmonious in their action.

God is infinitely wise. Wisdom is symbolized in the Bible by light, and we read, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5) The psalmist used a wonderful illustration of the Creator’s wisdom and power. He wrote, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power his understanding is infinite.”—Ps. 147:4,5

The psalmist further wrote concerning God as one who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”—Ps. 147:8-11

The Bible speaks of the Creator as being “almighty.” Indeed, this is one of the names given to him in the Bible. Psalm 91:1 reads, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” This promise is of particular value to those who have faith in God and who have dedicated themselves to his service, for it assures them that the one whom they serve is all-powerful and, therefore that nothing can interfere with the accomplishment of his purposes.

The Bible also says that “God is a Spirit,” and to this is added that those who worship him should worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:25) Yes, God is a Spirit, a spirit being, high above all his creatures in heaven and in earth. In our minds and hearts we can praise and worship him, not because we see him, or see a humanly conceived image of him, but because we have learned through the Bible many wonderful and glorious things concerning him.

Speaking to the Athenians on Mars’ Hill, Paul said concerning the true and living God of the Bible that he “made the world and all things therein.” And, “seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing that he giveth to all, life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from everyone of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”—Acts 17:24-28

Yes, the true God of the Bible gives breath and life and all things to his creatures. In him we live, and move, and exist. To his invisible existence all creation gloriously speaks. Only the “fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”—Ps. 14:1

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