Verses 18-20 read,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Just as righteousness was revealed by God through Jesus Christ, that same salvation reveals God’s wrath against unrighteousness. What is it one is saved from? It is eternal death, Satan, and the grip of sin. God’s wrath is what will happen when Jesus comes again, some will be resurrected to eternal life with Jesus in New Jerusalem and some will be resurrected to God’s wrath. Revelation 21:6-8 reads,
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
God never hid Himself from the world. He has been plain in Creation since the beginning. But, in order to fulfill his own desires and satisfy the flesh, man closed his eyes and ears to God and pretended He didn’t exist as The Almighty. Instead, sinful man created his own stories of creation like an explosion in the chaos. He created his own version of how man came to be such as evolution. He created religions and gods which would allow him to practice self-righteousness and self-gratification; he created I-theism and idols, and new beliefs. He created new age wisdom which appears to be good, and light, and love, but is all about the self, and the people who practice it not only accept all manner of depravity but endorse the further degradation of the soul, mind, and spirit. Verses 21-32 say it this way,
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Verses 21-25 in The Living Bible read,
Yes, they knew about him all right, but they wouldn’t admit it or worship him or even thank him for all his daily care. And after a while they began to think up silly ideas of what God was like and what he wanted them to do. The result was that their foolish minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming themselves to be wise without God, they became utter fools instead. 23 And then, instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they took wood and stone and made idols for themselves, carving them to look like mere birds and animals and snakes and puny men.
24 So God let them go ahead into every sort of sex sin, and do whatever they wanted to—yes, vile and sinful things with each other’s bodies. 25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they prayed to the things God made, but wouldn’t obey the blessed God who made these things.
Yes, the world is filled with degeneracy and debauchery, it seems to become more corrupt every day. But, Believer, it is not without hope! The world is darkness, the enemy likes it that way. But, you are the Salt & Light of the world! You hold the hope of the Gospel within you! Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
What does that mean? Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; He is the only way to Salvation (John 14:6). The way you live your life shines a light into the darkness and calls people to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said people would know you by your love (John 13:35). You will be recognized by your fruit(Matthew 7:16), that is what your life produces, either God’s glory as you become like Christ or your own glory as you live to lift yourself up.
How does that relate to the life you should lead? Ephesians 5:1-21 says it like this,
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The world is blind and deaf to the Gospel because the enemy has pulled a darkness down over their eyes, hardened their hearts, and pressed his hands over their ears. Lies hide in the dark, but truth is revealed in the light. Live a life of light by loving, by growing more Christ-like, and being the light, Jesus has made you to be. The world is enslaved and does not know it, but you can make a difference. Romans 10:13-17 reads,
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Believer, you are the light in a world of darkness. You have the hope of the Gospel in a world that needs Jesus.