Jump Start # 369

Psalms 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.”

   The designation of a  “fool” is the strongest language in the Bible. In the book of Proverbs there are many contrasts between the fool and the wise man. The fool is called lazy. The fool doesn’t live beyond the present. The fool is constantly in trouble.

  In the gospels, Jesus told the story about the farmer who wanted to tear down his barns and build larger barns. His intentions were to sit back and relax. He never included God in his plans. He lived as if he was always going to live. He died that very night. God called him, “a fool.” In the story of the ten virgins, the five who ran out of oil and had to go and buy some and missed the groom and missed the wedding were called, foolish.

  To be called a fool by God is about as bad as it gets. Our passage reveals the declaration of the fool. He says in his heart, or we would say, “he thinks to himself,” yet God hears him. He proclaims that there is no God. Now why would someone do that?

 Could it be that his eyes have been closed all through life and he has refused to see the actions and words of God? Does not nature point to God? Does not life yearn to find someone outside of us? How does the fool ignore these things? How can he not see them?

  Maybe, he has experienced trials and troubles in life and he cannot accept that there is a God, if injustice abounds. If there is a God, he reasons and thinks, then life ought to be good, troubles few, and calm waters to sail upon. But life isn’t like this. Not at all. It seems we go from one crisis to another. There are always issues, problems and things hanging around that irritate, mess up and generally ruin a good day. If there is a God, where is He? The easiest explanation is to say, “there is no God.”

  Perhaps, as the rest of the passage indicates, this person is engaged in wrong behavior. Guilt would make him stop. Instead, he denies God. With God out of the picture, the things associated with God are gone as well. If there is no God, then the Bible can’t be from Him. If there is no God, there cannot be a judgment, nor a Heaven or a Hell. They can’t exist because the fool thinks God doesn’t exist. And if God doesn’t exist, this is it. There is no life after death. There is nothing after death.

  The thinking of a fool is foolish. He has no proof. He has no leg to stand upon. He reasons from his foolish mind. Although he is called a fool, don’t for a moment assume that he is dumb. He’s not. He’s well educated, well trained, and lives in a world in which all around him do not believe in God. The fool writes books and produces documentaries that deny God. Worse than the fool who utters these things, is the person that listens to the fool and is convinced that the fool is right. Some how the fool always gets an audience. His prideful boasts sounds of assurance, confidence and evidence. The reality is he is opinionated, arrogant, closed minded and prejudiced. The fool convinces those who will not think for themselves. The fool preys upon those who will not take the time to think, study and reason for themselves. The arguments of the fool sound right. It seems he is right.

  The fool fails in that he has not proven any of this theories. God is. God has proven Himself. The fool is left with empty ideas, unproven claims and a life that is void of hope, grace, and a future. Living in denial about God does not make God disappear. God is—whether we believe it or not. Paul told the Thessalonians not to grieve as others do who have no hope. There is a hope, even in death for the Christian. Heaven awaits.

  Because a fool states something emphatically, does not mean it is so. While the fool is certain there is no God, the child of God declares that God is. Unlike the fool, the child of God has proof. The Bible for one—explain that book, it’s unity, it’s accuracy, it’s history, it’s specific prophecies fulfilled. Only one explanation—God. The heavens declare the handiwork of God, the book of Psalms says. Look around—see the beauty, the complexity, the order in the world. There is only one explanation—God. Look at the design of things—God. Look at the desire of mankind to worship, found in all civilizations—God. Look at the innate sense of right and wrong—God.

  The fool says, “nope. There’s no God.” He’s a fool. He doesn’t get it. He doesn’t want to get it. He may mock those who believe in God, but he’s the one to be pitied, living alone and with sin in his life, with a loving God who wants to forgive him, help him, and include him in Heaven, right there. Just open your eyes. Just open the book.

  Don’t be like that! You know better!

Roger