But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. Psalm 14:5
The presence of God is with his people. It fills some with dread and they complain about Christians or avoid them completely. Paul explains this, “[God] uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ … To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
To some, we’re the aroma of death, death to their pride, death to their self-sufficiency, death to their independence. They suppress the truth (Romans 1:18) but the presence of God in our lives reminds them.
Paul goes on to say, “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).
God has made himself known through creation, through people’s conscience and through Jesus’ coming. Creation displays order, intricate design, and incredible variety that couldn’t happen by accident. We don’t see new matter forming from nothing. An explosion of energy creates chaos, not order.
People have inner values. In every culture, people believe murder is wrong. We hear of people helping and rescuing complete strangers, even when it’s not in their best interests to do so.
Finally, the historical evidence for Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is abundant.
Yes indeed, people are without excuse and will continue to dread God’s presence, unless they acknowledge God’s existence and their accountability to him.
