"Clearly Seen"
- Romans 1:20 “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:”
During one of my medical appointments, I overheard a conversation between two supposed believers, one an older patient and one a nurse. I knew the nurse and was saddened to hear her response to the other believer concerning abortion. The nurse mentioned something to the effect that so many things in life are vague and unclear, that abortion was one of those issues, and that people just need to do what they believe is right for themselves (Judges 17:6, 21:25; Pro. 12:15, 16:2, 21:2).
Throughout my life I have heard both Christian laymen and leaders express contempt for those who express the Christian life as clear, obvious, black and white. And yet, that is exactly what our righteous Judge (II Tim. 4:8) has done. God has repeatedly revealed Himself and His will throughout His creation and throughout His Word. If these truths of God are “clearly seen,” then why do so many miss them and can’t see them?
- II Cor. 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
This blindness has happened to God’s chosen people, Israel (Rom. 11:25; II Cor. 3:14), and can definitely happen to God’s redeemed people (II Pt. 1:9; I Jn. 2:9, 11; Rev. 3:17).
If, dear believer, you are not seeing God’s truths clearly, instead of scolding other believers for emphasizing the clarity of God’s Word, you need to remove what is blinding you.
- Mt. 7:5 “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
- Lk. 6:42 “Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.”
For sure, our perfect Judge makes all things plain. Otherwise, He would not be a just Judge and Lawgiver (Jms. 4:12) to hold us accountable on Judgment Day for what we could not possibly know. However, God will judge all we say and do as right or wrong (Ecc. 12:14) at the day of judgment so our righteous Judge and Lawgiver has “clearly” revealed all of what is right and wrong in His creation and in His Word. Therefore, you need to make sure that your stand is in accordance with God’s clear Word. (James 2:12)