2005-10-02 - Atheists

Psalm 10, Part 5

Verse 4: The wicked move from cursing God to simply leaving Him out of their lives. They have no place for God, for certainly any recognition of Him could prove to be an encumbrance on their lifestyles. It isn't that they don't recognize God's existence; they just reject His authority.

On the other hand, today we find significant numbers of individuals who claim there is no God. Certainly governments who hold this view as a national position are unique to this age. This in and of itself is the greatest proof of just how distorted the modern world really is. "The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good" (Psalm 14:1).

The lack of belief in God is insane, and this world is made up of a lot of insanity. These are the kind of people who, when you point out they are taking the Lord's name in vain, say they mean nothing by it. Exactly! God has no place in their lives whatsoever. They are oblivious to His very existence. He means absolutely nothing to them.

Verse 5-6: And one of the biggest curses that seems to fall on these wicked is prosperity. It is material comfort that reinforces the attitude, "I can do it myself. I don't have a need for a god!" The more "success" they find, the further they move from God and His laws.

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24). Their lives are focused on getting more, and therefore they will not tolerate anything or anyone getting in the way, least of all God.

They seem to find security in material possessions, power, and everything else other than God. But this very security becomes its own trap. It is this approach to life that led to a number of people jumping out windows in 1929, when they lost their financial resources. They were nothing without money, and they were right; they were nothing, because they didn't have God. As soon as we say life comes from anywhere other than the Lord, even as Christians, we fall into the trap of demanding that circumstances provide for our happiness. And though our salvation isn't at risk, our peace, comfort and relationship with God is severely damaged.

Verse 7: Because the unrighteous individual has apparent success, defeating all who get in the way, stabbing those above him on the corporate ladder, he comes to believe he will always succeed. Nothing will stand in his way. And it seems as if he is right, for we all know those around us who reject the Lord, but yet life seems to go their way. And conversely, we see those who strive to be obedient and serve the Lord, yet their lives seem to never go right.

To be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org