Let's take another look at the verse above; this time from the Moffatt translation:
Roma 1:21 (Mof) Though they knew God, they have not glorified him as God nor given thanks to him; they have turned to FUTILE SPECULATIONS ["in their thinking"-RSV] till their ignorant ["senseless"-RSV] minds grew dark ["were darkened"-RSV].
See the expression the KJV "became vain"? Notice how Moffatt sees that as "they have turned to"? What's the difference? Well, the sense or contextual meaning of the Statement is that man RESORTED-TO, "Inquired-of, or relied-on" the "understanding of his mind" and the "reasoning of his heart" RATHER-THAN God's Testimony, Word, Will, Instruction, or Revelation.
This is sure death! Over & over again God Tells us that man's life is NOT merely "supported or supplied" by material necessities such as food, clothing & shelter, etc., but by God's Direct Revelation... or, "every Word that Proceeds out the Mouth of God." To ignore or reject this Life-from-God IS not only sin, but DEATH.
What does GOD Say? Does GOD have anything to Say about this ___? Does GOD Know about this? Should we not ASK GOD - FIRST?
John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light [God's Living, Revealed Truth & Life & Way PERSONIFIED, and In-Carnate] is come into the world, and men loved [preferred & chose the] darkness [of their own "vain imaginations"] rather than [instead of] light, because their deeds were [and they preferred] evil.
The Test only Comes when we are Given a REAL Choice. So it is that man's "Free-Will" ["Dominion"] is his PROVING-GROUND! The Garden-of-Temptation is man's Opportunity to Choose God - or not!
There is a sense in which the Cross of Christ [in every saint's Life] is both the Tree of Death ["knowledge of good & evil"], AND the Tree of Life [Holy, Righteousness thru Christ's Resurrection-Power]. So, by Renunciation ["crucifixion"] of SELF ["Repentance"], we are "DAILY" Led by God's Spirit of Holiness to the "Newness of Life by the Renewing of our minds". Luke 9:23 (KJV) And he [Jesus] said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross *daily*, and follow me. DO we "cling to the Old Rugged Cross" ?
But let's see what happens if we WON'T.
Roma 1:22 (KJV) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also *gave them up* to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. {more: or, rather}
Now I don't know about you, but I always thought that the REASON God "GAVE THEM UP!" was because they did all these evil things. But that's NOT what Paul is Saying here.
What CAUSED them to "change the glory" ["exchange"-RSV, MOF, etc.]? Their "turning" or resorting to [their own] "futile speculations" RATHER-THAN Receiving/Believing/Trusting/Obeying God's WORD! This is precisely why God Killed His Anointed King Saul! Notice:
1Chr 10:13 (KJV) So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, [even] against the *word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for *asking [counsel] of [one that had] a familiar spirit [rather-than God], to enquire [of it]; {committed: Heb. transgressed} 14 And *enquired not of the LORD: therefore he [God] slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. {Jesse: Heb. Isai}
Tell me... do you hear a lot of "futile" or "vain" "speculations" which, somehow you surmise, are merely "fancies" of men's "imaginations" which they "traffic-in" and hope to "peddle" to others? [Only a man who has bought another's lie expects you to buy his... and becomes furious [vicious] if you won't!]
I am talking about those religious "platitudes" and "slogans" which, when the Test or time of real need comes, can only offend and inflict & wound the suffering - and can never Truly Comfort; The "hollow sayings" and "empty words" that are without any Life. Those philosophical "mental-maneuverings" which tend to spread despair and disillusionment rather than Hope and Real Comfort. These are not God's Living-Word, but man's vanity!
Is it any wonder then, that God "GIVES THEM UP!", and that they become the brutish carnivores described? It is for sure that where God's Sovereign Reign and Rule [Kingdom] is refused, only death and certain destruction can prevail.
But how about you? Do YOU prefer your own "futile speculations" and "vain imaginings" to God's Word? Are YOU trying to "go it alone", like King Saul? Trying to "figure it out" and "get to the bottom of God"? Do you prefer your own opinion to God's?
God Repented of ever having Made Saul His Anointed King [1Sam 15:35] and later Killed him because Saul WOULD NOT LISTEN to God; that is, Saul would not be RULED by God! Saul's "head was turned" by God's People's Opinions [as well as his own] - he listened to man & not God. Do YOU do this?
When you have a problem or a question... who do you ask?; GOD?? Be very careful, Beloved; LISTEN TO GOD. And then OBEY what He Tells you if you ever want to HEAR from Him again! God is Speaking to YOU today. But will you LISTEN? You cannot HEAR what you will not LISTEN to; even as you YIELD to, & SERVE what you SEEK!
Your heart is deceitful; not to be trusted!
Prov 16:2 (KJV) *All the ways of a man [are] clean in his +own eyes*; but the LORD weigheth [Discerns] the spirits [hidden intentions].
Prov 16:25 (KJV) There is a way that *seemeth* right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
Isai 30:21 (KJV) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, *This* [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, *I-Am* the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 5:39 (KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And [but] ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
We must RESORT-UNTO Him!
Jesus has this Warning for ALL of us:
Luke 8:18 (KJV) Take heed [be very careful!] therefore *how* ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. {seemeth...: or, thinketh that he hath}
As the old Rabbis used to say: "GO AND LEARN WHAT THIS MEANS!"
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