It is the religious nature of human beings to “search for a god or for many gods.” But does this desire to search start with man or does it start elsewhere? In Romans 1 the Apostle Paul offers a unique explanation for man’s preoccupation with religion. The Apostle Paul teaches that the desire within man to seek a god does not originate with him. Paul teaches that God has implanted awareness within the human spirit that there is a reality beyond mankind and beyond the material universe.
It is God who stirs the heart to seek after God and the things of God. Yet man, in his fallen nature, messes up the search and exchanges the search for "The One True God" to a search for "a god." Man exchanges the incorruptible for the corruptible. He is quick to sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the temporal.
Paul says that God has manifested Himself “in” people (See Rom. 1:19). It is as if God implanted in human beings a radio receiver that He Himself tuned to HIS signal. I can just hear the message. "NOW HEAR THIS, NOW HEAR THIS, I AM GOD AND I EXIST AND YOU NEED ME! SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND I WILL BE FOUND. The message that there is a God of the Universe was sent, and received in the hearts of men, but man chose darkness over light.
Rom 1:19-21 KJV Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.