I recently had an opportunity to preach at Northside Bible Church in Muskegon, MI.  My text for this “Thanksgiving Follow-up” service was Romans 1:16-25.

This may seem like a strange passage for the holiday season, but it becomes clear in verse 21 just how appropriate it is.

This passage reminds us of the Gospel.

• We see that it is good news that God has revealed Himself. (vs. 17, 18 and 19)
• We see that it is good news that we are made alive by His power. (vs. 16)
• We see that it is good news that the righteous live by faith. (vs. 17)

This is what should our hearts with gratitude in every season of life.  This is what provides enduring hope that will never fail.  This is what moves us to honor God as God.

However, this passage also goes on to show us what will happen to those who are not thankful for it.  If God is not honored as God and praise and thanks is not given, it will inevitably lead to putting ourselves in His rightful place. (vs. 21 ff)

These people are lost, having exchanged the truth of God for a lie. (vs. 25)

As I was studying this passage, I came across a reference to Isaiah 28:14-18:

[14] Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!  [15] Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;  [16] therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’  [17] And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”  [18] Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it.

(Isaiah 28:14-18 ESV)

The picture here is clear and tragic.  When the truth of God is exchanged for a lie, people will construct a shelter with those lies.  They believe that such a shelter will protect them from the coming judgement of God.

But it will not protect.  Truth will win the day.  God will win the day.

This passage then is an encouragement but it is also a warning to us.  Do we exchange the truth of God for a lie?  Are we sheltering under these lies thinking that they will protect?

As I reflected on this, I wasn’t feeling very good.  This question was troubling to me.  This passage cuts me to the core.

You see, I don’t know if you’re like me, but I am daily tempted to take refuge in lies.

Let me explain.  Here are seven of the common lies that are pressed upon me along with their corresponding conclusions:

1.  God isn’t watching.
So it doesn’t really matter what I do

2. God isn’t concerned.
So I won’t burden Him with my problems

3. God isn’t listening
So what’s the use in talking

4. God isn’t going to respond
So I should figure this out by myself

5. God isn’t in control
But I can be.

6. God makes mistakes
But I don’t

This all leads to the ultimate lie:

7. God isn’t God
I am.

Again, I don’t know if you are like me, but I am very familiar with these lies.

This path has been around since the beginning of time. It is what has led Satan to fall…it is what Adam and Eve believed… It is what assaults our hearts on a daily basis.

Another part of this warning is this, we can believe these lies and at the same time be very religious.

We can look very good-and do good in the world.  But our hearts can still be dead.  We can still not honor God.  We can still not give thanks to Him.

I don’t want to be religious

I don’t want to shelter under lies.

I want to know God and honor Him as God

When I do– I get to see what He has done and what He is doing.  It amazes me and fills me with gratitude.

When we know Him-We put our faith in Him.  There is no other place to put it.

So what do we do?  Are we caught in these lies?  Are we sheltering under them?

We must repent.
We must believe in the Good News.
We must ask God to reveal Himself.
We must put our faith in Him alone.

We can say…I believe but help my unbelief.

One of my favorite hymns is Rock of Ages.  I find the first verse of the song very appropriate in light of all of this:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood
from thy wounded side which flowed
be of sin the double cure
save from wrath and make me pure.

Be saved from wrath…Be made pure.

May we not hide in a refuge of lies.

But, Lord by your grace and because of the Gospel, let us hide in you.