They do not believe in God because they do not want him to exist
We saw in the previous post that just because people receive objective evidence of the one true God does not mean they follow him. In fact, the Bible teaches that precisely the opposite happens.
Apart from God’s intervention the fallen human heart recoils from the one true God. Rather than worship God as he is and change as he requires, fallen people create substitute gods that suit their desires. In Romans 1, the apostle Paul said that people
“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. 21 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 reptiles.” (Rom. 1:18–23)
Three surprising facts
Notice three key truths about the turn from God to idolatry. First, verses 19–20 say all people know from objective evidence that the one true God who created all things exists.
Second, verse 18 says they respond by “suppressing” the truth. They do not want to deal with God as he truly is, so they push reality about God from their consciousness.
Third, verse 23 says they exchange what they know to be true about God for idols. They create gods to substitute for the true God they spurn. This is what Israel did with the golden calf. This is what Abraham did until God appeared to him in Ur.
And this encounter brought Abraham’s first great test. Would he now give exclusive worship and devotion to the one true God? Abraham’s actions show he passed the test. He obeyed God by leaving Ur. When he came to the Promised Land, he built altars of worship and called on the name of the Lord (Gen. 12:7–8; 13:4, 18). In the remainder of his story, there is no hint of idolatry.
Will you follow in Abraham’s steps?
If you are not yet a Christian, you face the same test Abraham did. In your heart of hearts, even if you have never encountered God in an extraordinary way, you know he exists. You have been guilty of suppressing what you know of him and exchanging devotion to him for devotion to other things you have made ultimate instead, such as money, sex, music, career, family, friends, romance, movies, sports, food, hobbies, education, the beauty or build or health of your body, and so on.
The question is, When you encounter the truths about Jesus Christ, will you surrender your idols? Will you make him most important? God calls you to worship and serve him exclusively. He alone is worthy, and therefore he is a jealous God.