Tragic Irony: the use of dramatic irony in a tragedy (originally, in Greek tragedy), so that the audience is aware that a character's words or actions will bring about a tragic or fatal result, while the character is not.
— www.collinsdictionary.com
When someone is blind to the truth, it’s only a matter of time until they are somehow injured, as was the case with Snow White. In the spiritual life, we are all born totally blind. We are so utterly depraved that we don’t even realize how incapable we are of seeing the truth. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). This is why, as believers with divinely imparted spiritual sight, existing in this world is akin to watching myriad tragic ironies play out before our eyes. We can see the danger before a person, but the person can’t. We try to point it out, or yell in the spirit of the little girl above, but an unbeliever can’t see or hear us, either! It’s so frustrating - it’s like watching a car wreck in slow motion and there’s nothing we can do about it.
Until an unbeliever is humbled to the point of repentance and receives saving faith by the grace of God, they remain in this tragic condition. What we believers have to remember is that, as odd as it may seem, an unbeliever must actively (as in daily) suppress the truth about God, and, in turn, the truth about their depravity, exchanging the truth for a lie.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
— Romans 1:18-21
It’s important to understand precisely what the Word of God is asserting when it uses the word “suppress” in v18. Exegeting the original Greek reveals that this word is in the present tense, active voice, implying an ongoing, personal choice. In other words, they are held personally responsible for rejecting God’s will (and ultimately His salvific purpose ala John 3:16) and, therefore, “they are without excuse” (v20). Once we wrap our minds around God’s integrity towards unbelievers, it all begins to fall into place. What seems odd is actually what we ought to expect!
You might ask why anyone in their right mind would ever reject God’s graciousness in the first place. The answer is simple: God’s grace is offensive to an arrogant, fleshly person. Why? “Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). In semi-theological terms, we call this system of thinking, “creature credit.” I often teach and write about this topic because it is ancient, tracing all the way back to the Fall in the Garden of Eden. I like to refer to creature credit as the currency in Satan’s unholy economy.
For someone abiding in Satan’s economy, the more currency the better - makes sense. What also makes sense, then (and this may require some thinking on your behalf), is that Satan’s economy is mutually exclusive from God’s economy (where the Creator receives all the credit). “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). Therefore, we rightly conclude that an unbeliever hates the currency in God’s economy, namely grace. This is the linchpin - do not leave this paragraph until you understand this! If you still don’t get it, write me an email and I promise to respond and answer your questions.
What we conclude is that anyone functioning in the flesh is offended by the grace of God. By default, this includes every unbeliever; however, even we believers can catch ourselves behaving like unbelievers (ref: 1 Corinthians 3:3). Don’t believe me? Have you ever responded to someone’s generosity with an immediate desire to pay them back or return the favor? Sounds benign, but that’s your flesh rejecting grace. We do this to God every time we act religiously, so don’t be arrogant, my friends.
Grace is to creature credit as light is to darkness - it overcomes its adversary with such ease that the very presence of it causes extreme discomfort in those trying to abide in Satan’s economy. The response is a hatred for the thing that threatens its very existence, namely grace. This is something extremely difficult for a believer to comprehend at face value. However, once we understand a few Biblical principles (e.g., those outlined above), we completely understand and our agitation, thankfully, subsides (though our sadness remains).
Like the little girl who cried out for Snow White’s safety, we, too, cry out with empathy, having once been blind ourselves, and with a love that wants everyone in this world to be saved. Sadly, our voices aren’t always heard. It’s a painful irony, one that stings, bruising our hearts. Like I witnessed that day at the Disney On Ice show, our Father consoles us when we collapse, feeling defeated, sometimes even weeping, into His loving arms. Oh, how I wish I could get through to the lost! What a tragedy...
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
