“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable
works, there is none who does good.”
This verse inspired Pastor Ray Comfort to use ‘April Fool’s
Day’ as an outreach to atheists. Over
many years he has developed a rapport with atheists in debating the subject of
our Almighty God. It is out of love that
Pastor Comfort has equipped himself to engage these proclaimed atheists. I confess, I lack the patience.
“Atheistical thoughts are very foolish wicked
thoughts, and they are at the bottom of a great deal of the wickedness that is
in this world. The word of God is a discerner of these thoughts, and
puts a just brand on him that harbours them. Nabal is his name, and folly is
with him; for he thinks against the clearest light, against his own
knowledge and convictions, and the common sentiments of all the wise and sober
part of mankind. No man will say, There is no God till he is so hardened
in sin that it has become his interest that there should be none to call him to
an account.” (Matthew Henry)
But have you considered that this verse could also apply to
those who declare to be believers? Notice
in this psalm how God investigates man. “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the
children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have
together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Psalm
14:2-3) It takes a humble and contrite
heart to admit we are sinners and recognize that any goodness comes only from
God. We like to think we are good
without God. But we are not. “So
Jesus said to him, ‘why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is,
God.” (Mark 10:18) “Our society has
a lot more “practical atheists” than it does self-proclaimed atheists. A practical atheist acts as though God does
not exist, whatever he or she may proclaim to believe. Both views of God are foolish and
self-destructive.” (Charles Stanley)
How it must grieve our Great God when people honor Him with
their lips but live in unrepentant sin. “There
is something of practical atheism at the bottom of all sin. "There is no Elohim, no Judge or
governor of the world, no providence presiding over the affairs of men.’’ They
cannot doubt of the being of God, but will question his dominion. He says this in
his heart; it is not his judgment, but his imagination. He cannot satisfy
himself that there is none, but he wishes there were none, and pleases himself
with the fancy that it is possible there may be none. He cannot be sure there
is one, and therefore he is willing to think there is none. He dares not speak
it out, lest he be confuted, and so undeceived, but he whispers it secretly in
his heart, for the silencing of the clamours of his conscience and the
emboldening of himself in his evil ways.” (Matthew Henry)
Lastly, it is a foolish person indeed who, by denying the
existence of God, forgoes fellowship with a Loving Creator. That fool is missing out on the greatest joy
of the world: Jesus. “The Lord Jesus is
a deep sea of joy: my soul shall dive therein, shall be swallowed up in the
delights of His society.” (Charles Spurgeon)
This joy in the Lord is unsurpassable.
I am thankful to God that He shows us mercy and grace, and
reveals Himself to us that we may thereby know a joy that this world cannot
give. A joy unspeakable.
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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