“The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Psalm 14:1
If there is one theme that resounds loud and clear in the Scriptures, it is that there is a God, one God, the Maker of heaven and earth, and that His Son is the Redeemer of all men who will truly believe in Him. But how does one get from being an unbeliever, one who does not believe in God, to the place where, by faith, he surrenders all that he is and has to God, to live for and by Him? The answer, in part, is found by a true understanding of who man is, his nature, and then the absolute folly of trusting in himself to find true meaning in life, truly doing good. It was Solomon himself, perhaps one of the most knowledgeable men to have ever lived, who wrote: “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Prov. 28:26) Where then is the path?
Let us consider first what is provided to us in Scripture concerning this path to God, to faith, to liberty, and to Life eternal, which is the experiential knowledge of God, and His power. The Bible begins with a very simple phrase, yet it is the basis for all faith: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The atheist would scoff at such a statement, and the agnostic would just turn aside from any consideration of it. But there is in the statement a certain truth that cannot be ignored, and must be explained away, if we would choose the fool’s path of godlessness. It is the truth of existence, of first-cause, of pre-creation and movement. The effect of pre-existing power, wisdom, knowledge, design, and continuing existence, cannot be found logically in an exposion, but in a Person. The fool is the man who turns aside from the simplicity of the obvious to willingly embrace the lie that something he cannot and does not understand, created the world, and man, by His pre-determined will and purpose.
The second part of the answer to atheism is found in the Bible’s revelation, and emphatic declaration, that all men who walk, and live, on this earth, possess sinful nature, having no affinity with the goodness, and holiness of God. David tells us that this man naturally does “abominable works,” and that in the eyes of God, as all men are sinners, “…there is none that doeth good.” The Apostle Paul provides us with the testimony, proof, and evidence of what man is truly in his fallen, sinful condition by declaring: “…for I know that in me (that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.” (Rom. 7:18) These words also correspond perfectly with those of David, and Solomon, great men of intellect, wisdom, and knowledge. Man is born a sinner. His tendency is always downward, away from all that is good according to God. Remove the constraints upon his nature and status in life, add to that the pressure of suffering and loss, and man will reveal what is truly in his sinful, godless heart by what he says and does. The vile nature of man even proves to some extent the existence of Satan, for like Satan, man can live to steal, kill, and destroy. What is the cause of all wars, conflicts, suffering and loss? It is the sinful nature of man, which left unchecked, will always revert to that similar conduct as Satan.
Who is the fool? It is the one who denies, even defies, the laws of creation and nature. He refuses to accept the manifest attributes of God in nature. He is also the one who refuses to embrace, believe, and surrender to the great news of God’s sole, unique, and perfect solution, and remedy, to man’s sin, his sinful nature, and his destiny. The call of Jesus Christ is one of total surrender of the life to Him, since He made it, and He redeems it by His precious blood.
Dear Father, Give us all to see Thy sovereign power, and believe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.