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- Oct 26, 2007
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The fool has said in his heart, "[There is] no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; [There is] none who does good. Psalm 53:1 NKJV
Look at any elementary class when the teacher is absent and you can see the relationship between authority and behavior. In the absence of authority, kids do what they want, fearless of any consequences for their actions.
This is the picture David paints in Psalm 53—a classroom in chaos, the students unaware of the teacher watching from outside the door.
Psalm 52:2-3 says, “God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Since other Bible passages say everyone is corrupt—see Ecclesiastes 7:20 and Romans 3:10-12—what makes an atheist different from one who believes in God?
The difference isn’t one of internal righteousness, but of accepted forgiveness.
David called atheists “fools,” not because they are ignorant of God’s existence, but because they deny it in the face of strong evidence. If they deny God’s authority, they think they’ll avoid sin’s repercussions.
Believers, knowing their actions are corrupt, seek forgiveness for sins instead of pretending there are no consequences for them.
If someone you know denies God’s existence, don’t act holier than them. Show them that forgiveness is better than willful ignorance.
Prayer: Lord, may Your forgiveness be evident in me.
Look at any elementary class when the teacher is absent and you can see the relationship between authority and behavior. In the absence of authority, kids do what they want, fearless of any consequences for their actions.
This is the picture David paints in Psalm 53—a classroom in chaos, the students unaware of the teacher watching from outside the door.
Psalm 52:2-3 says, “God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Since other Bible passages say everyone is corrupt—see Ecclesiastes 7:20 and Romans 3:10-12—what makes an atheist different from one who believes in God?
The difference isn’t one of internal righteousness, but of accepted forgiveness.
David called atheists “fools,” not because they are ignorant of God’s existence, but because they deny it in the face of strong evidence. If they deny God’s authority, they think they’ll avoid sin’s repercussions.
Believers, knowing their actions are corrupt, seek forgiveness for sins instead of pretending there are no consequences for them.
If someone you know denies God’s existence, don’t act holier than them. Show them that forgiveness is better than willful ignorance.
Prayer: Lord, may Your forgiveness be evident in me.
