As Paul described in the previous verses, God made Himself perfectly and clearly visible through His creation (including man), and all of which was created for the sole purpose of glorifying God.
Now, in verse 21, Paul begins to indicate how serious man in his lost state really is.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him
God, through Paul, is saying - my creation knows who I am, I have made it perfectly clear. Yet, man has freely chosen not to acknowledge me as Lord, or give thanks to Me for all that I have provided - The responsibility lies squarely on our shoulders, and eternal condemnation as sinners refusing to honor and glorify God is just judgement for our actions. Do we really understand how serious it is that we have purposely rejected God?
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. John 3:20
but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
This describes the result of refusing to honor God. When man turned from God in favor of darkness, everything about him was affected, the base of which is the mind and the heart.
Futile (also translated vain) - useless, ineffective, not capable of producing results
The gr translation also indicates wicked, idolatrous
Man - in attempt to justify his actions - has become ineffective, useless, not capable of glorifying God, which is a purely wicked and idolatrous result. This, in turn, affects the heart - which has become a heart of stone, foolish and dark. Foolish indicating wicked, without understanding.
We have to realize the utter sinfulness of man (if that is even possible) to properly appreciate what was accomplished and given to us through Christ on the cross (I know that's not possible)!
While it may seem that this turning from God is being played out more and more in our society, we need to realize that this has been going on since the fall of man in the garden. Man, in his sinful fallen state, has always chosen (and will always choose) darkness over glorifying God. Man, in his sinful and fallen state, has always chosen (and will always choose) to ignore the evidence of God.
I have quoted Psalm 14, I think it does the best job at describing the absolute sinful nature, the total depravity of fallen man.
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Psalm 14
Let's spend some time meditating on how truly and justly condemned we really were in our lost state, and how amazing God's gift of salvation is to pull us from what we thought we really wanted and give us what we really need!
I look forward to any shared wisdom on this topic!
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