Rome, the center of the world when St.
Paul arrived there. It had leaders in government, able writers and philosophers,
poets, discussion groups on any topic you might chose. Paul describes them in
his letter – a letter, by the way, that outlasted all their prized literature -
by saying “they knew God and didn’t honor Him as God or thank Him, but their
thoughts turned to worthless things and their foolish heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise they showed how silly they are when for the glory of God who cannot die,
they substituted images of man who dies, and of birds, four-footed animals and
reptiles.” Romans 1, 21-23.
Later in this same chapter St. Paul
describes the result of their thinking and ends sadly with this, that people who
do what they do deserve to die, and then this, “they not only do them, but
approve when others do them” v.32.
St. Paul may have been an unknown when
he penned these words but he was speaking God’s truth. The truth that stands
the test of time and still sounds very modern in our day, doesn’t it?
For even today people still try to
re-write the Word of God, which is simply called “My Word is Truth”. And any attempts
we make to re-write or re-phrase sections of it does not work. Then shaping a lifestyle after our
own thinking leads to unhappiness, moral decay, and all kinds of disarray and
failures.
The Psalmist had a wise word for us. He writes, Psalm 119,89, “I have better insight than all my teachers, because
I think of the truths you wrote.” And
adds further, “I get understanding from your decrees, that is why I hate all
deception” v.104, so he says, “I understand better than the old men, because I follow
the way you want me to live,” v.100.
Good words for our guiding too, wouldn't you agree?
GPD
1/21/14
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