Ruin

Every September the city of Mumbai celebrates one of it's most famous festivals. While everyone else is busy preparing their homes for this festival I thought I would use my day off to write about the four steps that lead to man's ruin.

In the Bible we read about how every man has an intuitive knowledge of God from the day he is born. There is no one who can say on the day of judgement: God I did not believe you because you did not reveal yourself to me.

The Bible says: 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... (Romans 1:18-20)

God through creation (things that are made) has revealed himself to every man. And whoever does not acknowledge Him is only suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. (Psalms 19:1) 

Creation speaks daily to every man and woman about God's eternal power and Godhead. 

The ruin of man begins the day he ceases to glorify God as God.

The Bible says: 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 1:21)

Alternative theories about the origin of the Universe other than the truth (Genesis 1:1) (Hebrews 11:3)  are nothing but speculations and are usually created by men and women who refuse to glorify God as God even though God has clearly manifested His power to them through the things that are made.

The second stage of man's ruin is Idolatry. The Bible says: 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. 

Solomon in the book of Kings said: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! (1 Kings 8:27)

It is important we realize that we cannot confine God into a room or a statue. Heaven and earth cannot contain him, much less a temple or an idol. The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

‘Heaven is My throne,

And earth is My footstool.

What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,

Or what is the place of My rest?

Has My hand not made all these things?’(Acts 7:48-50)

God cannot be represented by an idol, temple or any other created thing.

If you are worshiping an idol you must realize today that you have fallen into the first stage of ruin. 

Those who worship creation - images of man, birds and animals have only exchanged the truth of God for a lie and are worshiping and serving the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)

The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24)

The third stage of man's ruin is sexual immorality. The Bible says: For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (Romans 1:26-27) 

Notice how the Bible says: God gave them up to vile passions. I believe it was men and women who gave up God first and in response God gave them up. When a man burns with lust for another man and a woman burns with lust for another woman, it is not a genetic problem rather it is a stage that follows the rejection of God as Creator.

The last stage of Man's ruin is a reprobate mind. When men and women do not glorify God as God, worship idols and burn with lust for each other God gives them over to a mind that is preoccupied with evil. The Bible says: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32) 

The Good News is that the Lord has provided a great and mighty salvation for all men and women no matter how ruined they are. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16:16-31)