Whatever Happened To Shame? - Romans 10:11

 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” - Romans 10:11

    As we look around ourselves at the nation and the world how can we not ask the question,  “Where is the shame?” From our own personal fallenness to the Philistine celebrities we grovel about to the pagan CEOs who run this planet in its headlong rush into iniquity - where is the shame? There was a time (and I remember it well) when there were simply things a God-fearing civilized person didn’t say or do . . . period! Where did that time go? “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” - 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10.
    In our title verse, Paul simply implies that the alternative to believing in Christ is disbelief. And if belief in Jesus protects us from shame then disbelief denies us this heavenly protection, without prejudice. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” - John 3:36.
    We recall from Genesis that in the Garden, before sin, there was no shame - “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” - Genesis 2:25. They remained unashamed until their fall from God’s grace. “So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’” - Genesis 3:10.  With man’s corruption came the righteous shame that all men and women should feel over the sin in their lives. Yet we do not! “. . . because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools . . .” - Romans 1:21-22.
    Shame, we all secretly fear, is like a glaring spotlight, and so we run from it, seeking to escape its convicting brightness - “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” - John 3:20.
    How often have we all seen a bumper-sticker or heard the rallying cry of the unsaved -“No God - No Master”? This is the offspring of man’s patent sinfulness. Rather than feel the shame that should accompany our sins, we all too often reject the very notion that we should feel shame . . . for anything we think, say, or do. We have somehow decided that there is no such thing as sin, or that what may be a sin for someone else isn’t necessarily a sin for us. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” - 1 John 1:8.
    Somehow we approach the defense of our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds with an air of entitlement. We boldly declare that we must answer to no one, unless of course, we have broken some man-made law; and even then, we often try to excuse or mitigate our wrongdoing, but seldom if ever acknowledge that we have shamed ourselves by our behavior. But man’s laws often change like the direction of the breeze. God’s laws are immoveable and rock solid; they do not move or change. And let us make no mistake; we will be called upon by the Judge of both heaven and earth to give account for our every thought, word, and deed. “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” - Proverbs 16:5.
    We must step outside of our pride and seek God in humility, contrite  and repentant. Let our shame rise to convict us of our transgressions. Seek forgiveness and God will render to us His holy grace. “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” - Psalms 51:3.
    Our sins condemn us to death but the atonement of Jesus Christ will recover us and grant us forgiveness, salvation and life everlasting. As we turn from our sin and let our shame convict us under the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we can return to God our heavenly Father like the prodigal sons and daughters we are. “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” - Luke 15:21.
    We should all seek the Lord while He may be found and humbly ask of Him - “Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; let the wicked be ashamed; let them be silent in the grave.” - Psalm 31:17.
    Our shame isn’t gone. We nimbly hide from it beneath the mantle of our human pride. Let us all remember that pride goes before the fall. It did before; it does now; it will again, unless we bring ourselves to the foot of the Cross and ask Christ for forgiveness.