In Rom 1:18-32, Paul describes how the unbelieving world rejoices in their sinful activities. They choose moral darkness even though they know this leads to destruction and death. Three times Paul says that God gives them over to a depraved mind. We could say that God turns them over to the darkness they have chosen. They reap what they have sown.
They have chosen to be blind. No doubt, one of the reasons they have done so is because of the pleasure sin brings. Paul lists a number of these sins. Part of that list includes sexual sins. They enjoy the sin they engage in, thinking that it brings them freedom. They are free to do whatever their flesh desires. They find it exciting to experience this freedom as they reject any idea that such behavior comes with deadly consequences. They are happy in their blindness.
But even among unbelievers, a little bit of light breaks through the darkness. The blind can see what is going on around them.
Solomon talks about this phenomenon in Prov 11:10-11. He says that when righteousness is promoted, a “city rejoices.” When the wicked are put down, there is jubilation in the city. A city is exalted when the upright blesses it.
Solomon is saying that people who live in a city—this would include both believers and unbelievers—are happy when righteous principles rule the day. They proclaim that they want the freedom to live however they want, with no consequences. Often, they even ridicule the righteous commandments found in the Scriptures. But sometimes reality sets in. In the dark recesses of their minds, they know that sinful activities bring deadly results (Rom 1:32). They don’t want these results, brought on by the activities of others, to negatively impact their lives or their families.
We see that in our own day. Many maintain that people should be able to live however they want. This is certainly true in the sexual realm. Almost every expression of sexual perversion is celebrated, or at least tolerated. In the interest of tolerance, we are often told that we should not hold people responsible for their actions. If, for example, someone steals something, it is because of past injustices. We shouldn’t hold anybody to any antiquated standard of morality.
But there is then a rise in criminal activity. People don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods. Sexual perversion is taught in schools. Parents become concerned. They don’t like what they see and the results of the moral freedom that others enjoy. This helps to explain why so many parents are now protesting at school board meetings. It is also the reason that the issue of crime was a major factor in people’s voting as they did in the recent presidential election.
Among unbelievers, and even believers who walk according to the flesh, a ray of light comes shining through. Righteousness has its benefits. Kidner comments on Solomon’s words: “However drab the world makes out virtue to be, it appreciates the boon of it in public” (Kidner, Proverbs, p. 91).
When it comes to unbelievers, I think this is another example of God’s love for the world (John 3:16). He allows them to live in the darkness they desire, but He still reaches out to them. In His grace, He allows them to see the destructive nature of their sins. Perhaps this would be the first step in a search for spiritual things. A person might see that this world is evil and that it is passing away. This might be the first step the Holy Spirit uses to eventually reveal the truth of eternal life in Christ.
It is obvious that our world lies in spiritual darkness. But we should also realize that God is piercing that darkness in a variety of ways. When He does, He allows the blind to see.
