"The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.'"
Psalm 14:1-3
Truth is under attack today in our culture. Today's morality is painted in shades of gray. The days when right and wrong were painted black and white are gone. Faith in Christ is under attack in the public square. Where will it all end? Or better yet, where did all this begin? Our culture is defeating us because we are not winning our culture, for we’re not the salt of the earth. The truth is that what we believe determines how we behave. This is called one's worldview. Unfortunately, much of what our culture believes is entirely opposed to Biblical Truth. Many people hear the Gospel and are willing to respond to it but fail to see the need to change cultural practices which contradict their new faith. Many compromise their faith for the sake of their culture.
What makes us superior to animals? Some might say, “Intellect, superior intellect is what elevates man above the animals.” Others might say, “Self-awareness. Man is self-aware, and that translates into meaning and purpose in life. The animals do not have that.” Although these are very reasonable answers, they are incorrect. Why? Because God has created man to be superior and above the animals. He did not make the animals that way. God made man in His own image. He has given mankind dominion over all creation and has put the animals under man’s control (Gen. 1:26-28; 5:1; 9:1-2).
You see, God has made man with a free will that is “moral.” He didn’t make animals in His image with such a moral sense or a free will. Man’s morality is possible because he has been made in God’s image. It is not an accident, nor is it incidental. It did not happen by chance through some evolutionary process. God created man with a soul and spirit, which are the basis of his morality and righteousness. So what separates us or makes us different from the animals? Our souls, our spirit. What can intellect and self-awareness accomplish without morality, which consists of God’s principles of righteousness? Nothing! Intellect alone can only make man smarter than animals. That’s all! But man’s soul characterizes his superiority over the animals.
So what about those who do not believe in God or refuse to accept God and His principles of righteousness? It is a sad case, for they are living a life of pure hopelessness. A life without God as our Creator, who is the Giver of every good and perfect gift, has no purpose, inherent meaning, or spiritual essence, no soul or moral principles. It is a lifeless life, for we’re just smart animals. Godless people protest, saying that mankind can exist without God and His moral principles of righteousness. But is that true? Not for a moment! For morality to exist (God’s principles of righteousness), there must be a standard of morality and fear of God. The basis of that standard of righteousness is God’s revealed Truth. Everything except God’s Truth and His principles of righteousness is useless, helpless, hopeless, subjective, and changeable with man’s every whim, mood-swing, or wish. A man cannot define his own real morality.
“I know O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23)
When we follow God’s absolute and higher standards of righteousness and morality, the result is not small. But when we take away real morals, we harm ourselves. Morality cannot be defined or exist without God and His rule. It is pure futility! When man, out of his own will or mind, attempts to determine what is right or wrong, evil or good, moral and not moral, he brings nothing but chaos, lawlessness, anarchy, hopelessness, and despair. It is not for man to determine what is moral or righteous, but God, who is the only one who can set the right and perfect standard by which all men must live!
When men reject God’s standards of morality and righteousness, each person draws different conclusions. Thus each individual becomes equally moral or immoral, for no universal standard can exist. So, helping anyone would be no more moral than putting a bullet in his head. Very shocking, no? Well, that is the reality of atheism, a rejection of God the Creator, and His principles of righteousness. Without God, nothing makes sense, has a purpose in life and matters! What would matter to those who reject God, and His principles of righteousness is a life of self-gratification and survival (survival for those most fit to survive). Again, it is a futile life, a reality of being just animals!
The Psalmist summarizes it by declaring, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Ps. 14:1). The fool rejects God, for to him, there is no God who can judge him. Atheism is mostly a negative philosophy, for it is foremost a denial of the existence of God and all things. Practical atheists see the concept of God's existence as useless and unable to make any real contributions to the advancement of any society. In fact, most atheists believe that faith in God brings more harm to the world than good. Ridiculous!
It is foolish to say there is no God because that implies there is no ultimate purpose in life. It is foolish to say there is no God because that implies that there is no absolute truth or morals in life. This was exactly the problem in the period of Judges when "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). So if there are no absolute morals, then all behaviors or actions become morally equal, and everything is allowed or permitted.
It is foolish to say there is no God because it cuts oneself off from the faith, hope, and love of the Gospel. There is no doubt that an atheist worldview undermines and destroys the Bible worldview, which is the basis of faith, hope, and love. For the atheist, there is no God in whom we can believe; there is no life after death, no ultimate destiny for which to hope; and there is no objective basis on which to love our neighbor. An anti-Bible worldview or human philosophy produces lawlessness, doubt, pessimism, fear, despair, contempt, and selfishness. How foolish can that be! How much greater are Paul's words in First Corinthians 13:12-13!
"And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
The only truth that exists is that a life without God is a life without meaning, purpose, direction, and hope. How sad it will be when we come to our last breath and have lived a life without believing in God and His principles of righteousness, realizing that we have lived a life that was meaningless, without purpose and essence, and thus wasted! The soul is lost for eternity! How sad it is to live a life according to human philosophy, for it is an empty life that is hopeless and meaningless! A life that leads to the destruction of our souls. A life that awaits the judgment of God, eternally without hope.
My friends, a life without God is utterly hopeless! It is pure despair! When someone who does not believe in God comes to his last breath, he will look back on a life that was, in essence, meaningless. What is your purpose in life? Is it to please your Creator and Lord? Is heaven your goal?
Luci
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