I remember as a young boy my mother taught me to never call anyone a ‘fool’. I didn’t understand then. I just thought anyone who acted like a fool deserved to be called one. But after many years of studying scripture I learned why. To this day, I try never to use the word fool in describing someone, though it seems they are plentiful in our world. Why is ‘fool’ such a bad thing to call someone? Because the Bible tells us that a fool is basically an atheist. An Atheist says there is no God. Yet, scripture teaches us the fact of God is self-evident in creation.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse;
The Psalmist speaks of a time when it seems no one believes in God anymore. In verse two he says of the Lord that He looks down from Heaven to see if there are any that, “act wisely” and “seek after God”. Verse three brings the answer, “…there is none that does good, no, not one.”
The problem of most of the world seeking after other gods and turning their backs on the Lord is not a new one; it has been common to every generation in varying degrees. But God has always had a remnant. It may seem like no one believes but there is a remnant of the righteous as the Lord told to Elijah (1 Kings 19:18).
So is everyone who turns from God to worship other gods a fool? No, not really. We shouldn’t confuse the idolaters with atheists. Idolaters are lost people seeking something or someone in which to believe. However, an atheist is one who says there is no God, and only a fool would say that. To be a fool is to be the most lost of all people. We have a chance to show the lost the true light of Christ, by the way we live as true followers of Christ. But, an atheist has hardened his heart. We can’t show him anything because he does not have eyes to see or ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.
The Psalmist ends in hope. With God there’s always hope. He knows deliverance will come for God’s people. You and I must live in that same hope. No matter how bad it looks out there in our world, God always has a remnant. The true church is His remnant, and that remnant is the hope of Christ to a lost world Let’s be sure we’re a part of that remnant. Let’s be sure we’re not fools.
Shalom,
Pastor Brad
image credit: http://iamremnantbook.com/