A single moment in time can change the course of one’s future.  That statement sounds kind of ominous – and a bit cliché.  It is, however, one of life’s true-isms!  You know that we believe this because we warn our children of the pending doom of this decision or that – out of love – and wanting to protect them from consequences that will impact the rest of their lives.  We also view this in the positive in regards to investing for retirement, decisions for education and, of course, as it applies to accepting the salvation offered by Jesus Christ.

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul shows us such a fork in the road.  In chapter 1 he gives us what author Buddy Owens calls a “frightening picture” of the consequences of making the wrong choice when we arrive at this fork.  The hinge-point is the word “Therefore” in Romans 1:24.  Following this word is a long list of consequence and out comes that is truly eye opening.  I encourage you to read all the way to verse 32 and observe the things that lie side by side in this list.

So what is BEFORE the word “therefore”?  in verse 21 Paul says, “For although they [mankind] knew God…”  The case had been made earlier that God had been revealed and made plain to mankind.  But even though He was known – “they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.” When we “choose” to be too busy – to NOT acknowledge Him our thinking becomes futile and our hearts are darkened (v.21).  We have taken the wrong path – leading to a litany of problems.

You see, the fork in the road was the CHOICE to honor God by thanking and glorifying Him.  We often view “worship” as the activity in the sanctuary on Sunday morning – and that is a PART.  But since we know him – the choice to glorify Him and thank Him is given to us as individuals each and every day.