What Is the Lie?

What Is the Lie?

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” (Psalm 19:1). Despite the visible evidence of a Creator,  the number of people who identify themselves as atheists has drastically risen in recent years. According to Gallup polls in the 1950s and 1960s, 98% of Americans expressed a belief in God. However, a recent study revealed that today 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated (indifferent), 4% identify as atheist, and 5% identify as agnostic. We wonder how in the world could this shift have happened?

God has made it plain to all of mankind that He does indeed exist. Creation itself testifies that there is a Creator, so that people are without an excuse for their disbelief (Romans 1:20).

So why do people not believe if creation is shouting the existence of God? Scripture explains it plainly.

 Romans chapter 1 repeats two key points—the word exchanged (verse 23 and 25) and God gave them over (verse 26 and 28). What is being exchanged?

People are exchanging the truth about God for a lie. But the lie isn’t simply that God doesn’t exist. There is plenty of proof that God exists. So what is the lie they are exchanging the truth for?

The lie is that there is something better than God.

Gratifying self. Living for this world. Continuing in sin. These are the things mankind has decided is better than God.

To a lesser degree we have all entertained that thought. Every time we willfully choose sin over God, we are deciding that sin is better than God.

To the alcoholic, that drink is better than God. To the workaholic, money is better than God. To the person who has been hurt and refuses to forgive, holding onto bitterness is better than God. We have all chosen sin over God, deciding in that moment that whatever it is that we want, it is better than God.

Verse 28 makes the sad statement that “God gave them over to a depraved mind so that they do what ought not to be done.” Every time we choose sin, it’s easier to choose it again the next time and the next time, until eventually our mind is corrupted. It’s hard to choose truth with a corrupted mind, and eventually God gives us over to our sinful choices.

And that’s why people don’t believe in God. They are living for a false God instead of the true one.

How do we reach those people? I don’t think the arguments of theology make an impact on them. They don’t need to understand God more. They need to DESIRE Him more.

They need to stop believing that there are things that are better than God.

The question I am pondering is this: How will they begin to believe that?

I think that when the body of Christ begins to truly love others like Jesus, unbelievers  will see that God is better. When they see the joy that Jesus gives and how He makes a difference in our daily lives, they will see that God is better. When we stop focusing on our differences in political and social issues and start focusing on the ways we are the same, they will see that God is better. When we stop seeing them as part of a label or a group and see them as individuals with a story that we should try to understand, they will see that God is better. When we tell them what Jesus did in our own lives, they will see that God is better.

Some will continue to believe that there are things better than God. But there might be a few who will change their minds. And I really want to find them, one by one.

The Jesus I Need
You tell me God loves me but how can I know
When each time you see me, you’ve a new stone to throw?
You look at me, listing all the things I should change.
The way you show love seems judgmental and strange.
I need to see how life is better for you…
That God is there in your struggles and helps you make it through.
I need to know that He cares about my sorrow and loss.
I don’t need your harsh Jesus. I need the one on the cross.
So please just be patient and keep loving like Him.
If I feel I can trust you, I might let you in.
If you’ll listen to me, I might listen to you,
And maybe then I will see that I need Jesus, too.
-Bobbie Perkins