“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:22-23).
The idea of “cause and effect” refers to an action, event, or decision that is followed by a related consequence. Here in the book of Romans, one such relationship is exemplified in those who choose to hold down or suppress the truth of God’s existence. That decision produces the effect described for us in Romans 1:21: “For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (NAS).
Once we begin by suppressing the truth of God’s existence, we proceed from a starting point that is fundamentally flawed. On the other hand, the Biblical book of Proverbs directs us to the right departure point for good decision-making: “… the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding” ( Proverbs 9:10 TLB). Psalm 111:10 adds, “To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight…” (NET).
If we start with a flawed premise (like rejecting the truth of God’s existence that is revealed in the natural realm), then everything that flows from that premise is likely to be erroneous as well. That is the consequence of a mindset that is predicated on the assumption that God does not exist. It ultimately leads to the reasoning process described for us here in Romans 1:22: “Behind a facade of ‘wisdom’ they became just fools, fools who would exchange the glory of the eternal God for an imitation image…” (Phillips).
These inferences are important because every moral conviction finds its ultimate source in our beliefs concerning God. For instance, a person who believes in the existence of an all-powerful God who has created human beings in His image and holds us accountable for our actions is likely to make different moral choices than a person who doesn’t hold those beliefs. This is why our views on such matters are critically important, for the things we believe influence the choices we make.
If God does not occupy the highest position of worth in our lives, we are bound to replace Him with an inferior substitute. That decision also leads to another type of cause and effect relationship that Paul the Apostle will go on to describe in the following verse.