THE OUTCOME OF LIFESTYLE CHOICES

Romans 2:5-16

By David Woodbury

What is it that motivates a person to adopt a certain lifestyle? Generally it has to do with what the person perceives as being most beneficial and satisfying for them personally. However, there are times when the mature person needs to look outside their own personal satisfaction and fulfilment and see a bigger picture. Personal happiness, satisfaction and fulfilment are rather narrow spectrums for lifestyle decision making, for it focuses on a very self-centred basis. In making decisions that will impact us in the here and now, in the future and on into eternity, we need the influence of a power greater than ourselves.

For Paul, this higher power cannot be anything less than the living God whom he serves. Within the kindness, tolerance, and patience of God Paul sees the motivator that ought to, not only focus our decision-making processes outside our own narrow egocentric interests but also impel us in seeking the kingdom lifestyle which cannot be dominated by sin. While ever our benchmark is only our personal happiness we are in great danger in our decision making, for the focus is entirely internal. Most mature people will agree that such a focus in not only unhealthy but also severely lacking in any balanced, external input.

Paul calls us to actively respond in an intelligent and thoughtful manner, to the kindness, tolerance, and patience of God. Such a call is not from the basis of self-interest but rather a response thoughtfully generated out of love, appreciation and gratitude for what God does for us.

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For the day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil – for the Jew first and for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good for the Jew first and for the Gentile. (Romans 2:5-10 – NLT)

Paul now turns to the two aspects of the issue; the negative or positive response to God. Note here he contrasts two very disparate groups of people:

(a)     Those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers, (NLT)

(b)    and those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. (NLT)

Once again we note that these are about the lifestyle choices people have not only made for themselves, but also continue to integrate within their way of living. Wrong lifestyle choices and persistence in those choices must inevitably bring consequences, more often than not in this lifetime, and certainly in eternity. The reference about trouble and calamity (tribulation and anguish – NKJV) may well be referring to what will happen in this earthly life.

When we choose the kingdom lifestyle; that is the one that includes God in our lives, and intentionally seek to maintain that lifestyle, we are the recipients of authentic life, both in the here and now and in eternity. It is the natural consequence of the lifestyle choices we have made. There will be an inner peace which may well refer to this life as well as eternity. When Paul wrote to the Christian community at Philippi, he wrote of the inner peace that was available to those who had chosen to live the kingdom lifestyle. Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and mind as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-8 – NLT) Note once again the reference is to the present tense, you will experience peace as you live (live – an ongoing action) in Christ Jesus.

Those who are stubborn and persist in living for themselves, are disobedient and intentionally live a wicked life can expect no more than God’s wrath and his final judgment. That is the result of the lifestyle choices they have made. The outcome is the sum of their choices; by their choice and persistence in a lifestyle, they have brought judgment on themselves.

Note here the emphasis is on an ongoing and persistent action; those who keep on doing and those who live (live – an ongoing action). There is no thought of final or completed actions; they are all in the present tense and therefore able to be changed if the individual is desirous.

11 For God does not show favouritism. 12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they have never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s written law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right with God. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim – that the day is coming when God through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. (Romans 2:11-16 – NLT)

If we read this passage carefully we will see that Paul is making a case for the existence of a conscience (an inherent ability to comprehend right from wrong) as part of humanity’s natural foundation; a theme he will return to in other writings.

In the eyes of God, all wrongdoing that contravenes his way is sin, regardless of who is the participant. His requires that all humanity should live and conduct itself in accordance with His way. Whether or not people had some written code of conduct is an inconsequential point for they are created with a conscience which ought to be a sensitive and discerning inner counsellor. We only need to observe the response of a small child when they know they have done something wrong. They may have had little if any ethical input but quite often will respond in a guilty manner because the inbuilt monitor of conscience is active.

It is what humanity has done with this inbuilt monitor of conscience that is the crucial point. Conscience can be developed to a high, moral level or it can be so burnt and damaged by deliberate, wrongful behaviour that is can be rendered completely ineffective. To continually ignore and disregard the voice of conscience, will inevitably render that inner monitor null and void, and in the final analysis, totally ineffectual.

Paul writes of those who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. (Romans 2:14-15 – NLT) Because humanity is created with a conscience it cannot claim to be without moral and ethical guidance and must consequently answer for its obedience or disobedience, because of that inner monitor, to God. The non-existence of a written or formulated set of rules can never be an excuse for wrong moral and ethical behaviour. Those who, by the deliberate act of their own lifestyle choices and way of living, have so damaged that inner monitor are doubly guilty; they have not only committed wrong in the sight of God, but they have also, intentionally, destroyed the inner monitor of conscience.

In his pastoral letter to Timothy Paul warns of the process and damage that can destroy the conscience. 1Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (1Timothy 4:1-2 - NKJV) The symbolism used here is of a conscience that has been so traumatised that the damage is like that of skin that has become dead and insensitive after being burnt severely by a hot iron. Once again this is not an instant occurrence but rather the outcome of lifestyle choices and practices.

Paul’s concluding comment – that the day is coming when God through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life, (Romans 2:16 – NLT) needs to be clearly understood for fear that is causes us to be apprehensive about our eternal destiny. Paul is referring to those things we have tried to hide from our inner-self, from the world and God. Now the reality is that for many of us there is often part of our inner life that we keep private from others, perhaps even those closest to us. However, we fool ourselves if we think for a moment that we can keep these from a God who is all-seeing and all-knowing. In close communion with the Father God, we can be completely open and transparent, openly confessing the darkest and most painful secrets of our lives. The truth is that once we have confessed them to him they are no longer secrets and consequently we know that they are forgiven and our eternity is secure.