God abandons a person when he rejects God

Is it possible for God to abandon a person? One of the most tragic scenes in Scripture provides an illustration of this. It is a scene that involves that strongest man who ever lived, the mighty Samson.

Samson was the original Superman. He defeated a lion with his bare hands. He killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. He ripped the city gates off the wall of Gaza. He killed 30 Philistines for their clothing. Yet, in Judges 16:18-21, he is a pitiful sight. He became a grinder in the prison. It was a task for a mule. Because of his sin, God abandoned him. It is the judgment of

abandonment.

Is it possible for a person to abandon God? Is it possible for a person to turn his or her back upon God? Unfortunately, it is not only possible, but it occurs often. Romans 1:18-23 describes four steps a person takes in abandoning God.

The first step is revelation. Verse 18 begins, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. …”

God has spoken. He reveals himself in the Bible. Yet, people reject that revelation. The word “suppressed” means “hold down.” It is like a giant spring that people hold down. People know the truth. They understand that God has spoken through the Bible. God made the truth evident through reason and the moral law in the heart. Verse 19 continues, “… because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.”

God has imbued the evidence of spiritual and moral truth in the very fabric of man’s being.

Verse 20 states that every person can understand two facts about God — he exists and is very powerful. The beauty of Alaska points to a creator. Evolution has carried out a massive assault on the truth. It denies that there needs to be a cause for the effect of the

universe.

America has been richly blessed with the truth. All the Ivy League colleges were originally founded as Christian institutions to train pastors. The truth is so embedded within us that verse 20 concludes “so they are without excuse.”

The second step is rejection. Verse 21 speaks of this rejection. “Because, 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.”

Unfortunately, people often reject God. They don’t honor him as God. They don’t give thanks. They don’t honor him as the source of everything they possess. Man’s problem is not that he cannot find God and it’s not that he cannot recognize God. The problem is people reject God. John 3:19 reads, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Jesus entered the world and people rejected him.

The first step is revelation. The second step is rejection. The third step is rationalization. Romans 1:22 reads, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”

Fools is from the Greek word “moroni.” Unfortunately, the rejection of God’s revelation leads to a society of proud morons flaunting themselves as wise. Our society is filled with endless talk shows foolishly driveling out their folly. It reminds me of the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” The emperor was convinced he was wearing the most beautiful clothing when he was naked. He went out parading his glory when in reality he was naked.

The fourth step downward is the worst. Revelation is rejected. Darkness is rationalized. Verse 23 states, "… and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.”

The fourth step is false religion. Religion is not man at his highest. In reality, false religion is man at his lowest. False religion is man at the bottom. It is man who has gone away from God. The further he goes the more he descends into satanic false religion.

Man is not evolving up. He is not ascending to God. He is descending. He is falling from the truth of God in the Bible to the slime of false religion. The ultimate insanity is to reject God and create a non-god that doesn’t exist and worship it.

The revelation of God (the Bible) always focuses upon Jesus. He entered this world, lived a perfect life and died for your sins. God the Father resurrected him from the dead. This demonstrates the father accepted the sacrifice Jesus offered on the cross. He paid for your sins. Repent of your sins. Follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior today! He is the Messiah.

Can a person abandon God? Certainly. This train — revelation, rejection, rationalization and false religion — always ends in destruction. Samson found himself on this course. Thankfully, he got off the train. He repented. His hair began to grow, symbolizing his relationship with God. He turned back to the revelation he was given. He began to walk in the truth. God began to work in his life again. God will do the same in your life also.

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. Contact him at ethanchansen@gci.net.