LIVING LIKE A FOOL!

UNBELIEVERS ARE FOOLISH, TRUE BELIEVERS SHOULD NEVERE BE!

READ PSALM 14

Psalm 14:1

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,

there is none who does good.

Do you ever get frustrated with the behavior of unbelievers? Do you wonder why terrible things happen in the world? When a person says that there is no God, not only he is a fool, but his path is highway to corruption, to abominable actions. None of the people who deny God do good.

At times, we may assume that because people around us mention ‘god’, they must believe in the God of the Bible. But every god created by false religions is man-made and has no ability to change the status of men. Not believing in the only true God who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures leaves an individual in his foolish state, driven to ungodliness by his nature.

The god of the Muslims, of the Buddhists, of the Mormons, of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, of the true Roman Catholics, or of any other man-made religions is not God; it is a creation of man that produces wrath from the Lord.

Even those people who believe in a syncretistic view of religion, where all beliefs, or at least some beliefs are acceptable, at the end of the day do not believe in the true God, who revealed himself through the Scriptures.

John 14:6

            Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 Timothy 2:5-6

            For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

           

Any person who does not believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to God, and that we make peace with God only on His terms, believes in another gospel, another god.

When we speak with this kind of doctrinal clarity, the reaction of many is to say that we are judgmental and unloving. My reaction is to say that we are faithful to the Bible.

Psalm 14:2-3

The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,

to see if there are any who understand,

who seek after God.

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;

there is none who does good,

not even one.

This is not the observation of a man, but a judgment from God. Not only has man declared that there is no God, and has, in his morally foolish behavior, proven his inability to please God, but he does not even look for God. He has turned to alternative gods and worst of all, has replaced God.

Romans 1:21-23

            For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Nature and the conscience of man condemn man for his state of rebellion.

Lest we think that these were evaluations of God for the people during Old Testament times, Paul reasserts them in the New Testament.

Romans 3:9-12

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:

            “None is righteous, no, not one;

                        no one understands;

                        no one seeks for God.

            All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

                        no one does good,

                        not even one.”

So what should be the reactions of those who do believe in God?

Psalm 14:4-7

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers

who eat up my people as they eat bread

and do not call upon the LORD?

There they are in great terror,

for God is with the generation of the righteous.

You would shame the plans of the poor,

but the LORD is his refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,

let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Although the majority of the world lives oblivious of God, the LORD is not unaware and He will protect His own. Believers should trust in the LORD and find refuge in Him.

As believers, we need to stop hoping that the world will get better through human reform. So many believers place great hope in political or moral reform. We need to stop expecting unbelievers to live against their nature. They are sinners and they are bound to sin. We should be grateful to God that He restrains the actions of men. Our culture is not as bad as it would be, if God was not active in restricting evil and showing common grace to men.

As believers, we should not be arrogant or proud in our faith. We have believed because, in His grace, God has revealed Himself to us. We did not seek Him, He called us to Himself. Paul states this very clearly. We know these things, but many times our actions and attitudes show no compassion for the lost.

Ephesians 2:1-10

            And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

           

As believers, we should rest and trust in God. We should not live in fear, but in total dependence of our great God. Jesus reminds us of this:

John 16:33

            I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

As believers, we must be ambassadors for God. This is not a passive attitude, but truly an active goal of our lives. Those who do not know God are our mission field, our “raison d’etre”, the reason we have been left in this world.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

            Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

As believers, we are fooling ourselves if we believe this world is going to get better. We act foolishly, if we forget that God is in total control. We behave foolishly, if we become arrogant in our ways. We live foolishly, if we do not live for the progress of the Gospel!

GOD IS AS REAL AS YOUR PROBLEMS!

WE MUST FOCUS ON GOD, NOT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Psalm 13

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;

light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Will it ever stop raining? Will I ever get better? Do things ever get easier? Is that person ever going to change? Will I suffer forever? Will I ever be forgiven? Will I ever see justice? Will I ever find relief? Will I always struggle at work? Will I ever find a mate? Will I ever stop feeling so alone?

God, where are you? Did You forget me? Are You too busy for me? Have You turned the other way?

  

How long will I continue to worry? How long will I continue to be confused and perplexed? How long will my heart be full of sorrow? When are my days ever going to change?

How long will my enemies rejoice in my calamity? How long will my enemies prevail? How long will I continue to be overwhelmed?

How many of us are asking these kinds of questions of God? It certainly does not seem to be the godly way to deal with the trials of life. If David had stopped here, filled with despair, we should certainly be perplexed. 

But as David continues his conversation with the LORD, he calls Him his God. David has made a choice that drives his life. He has chosen Whom he will trust. The eternal, self-sufficient, omniscient One is his God. He is looking to Him to bring hope to his life. He desires God to strengthen him, so that his enemies will not be able to rejoice in his defeat. David’s defeat would be displaying a “shaken” life before his enemies. He is trusting God and he wants his trust to be visible as a testimony to his foes. 

David has clarity about what he has believed. He has trusted the eternal, faithful, and everlasting love of his God. He knows that he will find joy in God’s care. The heart that was full of sorrow is now a heart that hopes, and will rejoice in the care and work of God. He will not continue in his despair, but God will place a song in his heart. His song will praise the LORD Who deals mercifully with him. His God is the one Who vindicates him. He has no doubt that resting in God will produce peace in him, and he knows that God’s sovereign control will produce benefits to his life.

Is this truly a psalm of desperation? I believe that this is a song that describes real problems of life, which are hard to deal with. It also describes the response of a man who has chosen to trust God in the midst of them, knowing that his God is as real as his problems. He is not hopeless!

When facing the real problems of our lives we are tempted to look at our situations and despair, but God wants us to look at Him and trust.

About two years ago, I had the privilege of watching my parents experience this psalm before my eyes. My mom had been diagnosed with terminal acute leukemia, and when we heard the shocking news, our family was blessed to gather together with our parents. Although there were moments of deep sorrow as we faced the upcoming reality of separation from her, at least here on earth, there was also great trust in the Lord displayed.

My mom and dad were truly examples to us, as they lived out their lives in this difficult time. As we parted company with tears, knowing that we might never see Mom again on this side of heaven, we yet were rejoicing in the fact that we were all trusting God and His sovereign will. About six months later mom went to be with the Lord. During all that time, we experienced the loving care of God for her and for all of us who watched her rejoice in her salvation.

This psalm described David’s real struggles with life’s woes and the comforting care of God. Our experience as we awaited my mother’s homegoing displayed the truth that God never changes, that the Scriptures are true, and that we can live through the real struggles of life because God is still active in comforting His own.

Are you tempted to remain in a state of despair? God’s word and His promises need to be your focus and hope!

ARE YOU TIRED OF ALL THE LIES?

TO WHOM WILL YOU LISTEN?

Psalm 12

Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;

for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;

with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,

the tongue that makes great boasts,

those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,

our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the LORD;

“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

The words of the LORD are pure words,

like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,

purified seven times.

You, O LORD, will keep them;

you will guard us from this generation forever.

On every side the wicked prowl,

as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

In some ways, this psalm describes the same kind of world we live in. David is denouncing the fact that he is surrounded by wicked people. These people utter lies and are boastful in their talk. Even their words that seem appealing are flattering, but not true. Have things changed that much today? We live in a wicked world, where people are driven by their personal interests, where lies are the norm. These lies are spoken to mislead or to flatter for personal gain. We listen to people, but wonder if they are telling the truth. We don’t trust easily because, in our past experience, we have trusted people who proved unworthy of our trust.

How can we survive in this kind of world, without becoming cynical or disgruntled? We look around and we see the destruction caused by the lies of men. People are hurt and oppressed! With arrogance, men promote and defend their lies.

The psalmist shows us that the path of hope lies in trusting the LORD! He is the One who can surely be trusted; He never lies or tries to fool man. His words are pure, and He is always faithful to His words.

We have, in our hands, a book filled with truth, filled with warnings, filled with promises that we can trust in fully.

David begins this psalm by asking God to intervene. He knows that God is aware of every word spoken, and that He is the faithful judge of the veracity of those words.

David has learned to trust the promises, the purity, and the providence of God.

We, on the other hand, often allow the words of men to bring confusion and despair to our lives. We seem more concerned about the things we hear in news reports than the promises we read in God’s Word. We allow the wicked words of men to invade our minds, instead of meditating on the pure words of the Lord.

We act as if we are victims of the actions of men, forgetting that we are covered and protected by the careful providence of our loving Father.

We look with fear at the wolves, when we can set our sights on the Good Shepherd. We live in fear instead of enjoying the peace that comes from God.

We risk being sucked into a world of lies, and living by the standards of those who are trying to fool others. Even believers, at times, find themselves thinking that they need to lie, in order to survive in the world.

James 5:12

        But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Our reputation as believers should be one of truthfulness at all times. Our conversations should be trustworthy. We should not hide, spin, or exaggerate the facts. Our promises should be kept!

God will protect us from a world steeped in lies. He is the Provider. We do not need to be less than truthful in all we do and say.

We are surrounded by many voices. To whom will you choose to listen? What kind of thoughts do you allow to attract your mind What kind of counselors do you choose to listen to?

Philippians 4:8

        Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Don’t get discouraged. Our heavenly Father will have the last word! And it will be glorious, true, and  eternal! LISTEN TO THE TRUTH!

ARE YOUR PROBLEMS OBSCURING GOD?

LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD!

Psalm 11

In the LORD I take refuge;

how can you say to my soul,

“Flee like a bird to your mountain,

for behold, the wicked bend the bow;

they have fitted their arrow to the string

to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

The LORD is in his holy temple;

the LORD's throne is in heaven;

his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

The LORD tests the righteous,

but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

Let him rain coals on the wicked;

fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

For the LORD is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face.

This is a very interesting psalm, for David is responding to the counsel of some to flee from his enemies. But he had, instead, resolved to trust and take refuge in the LORD. He knew that the Creator, self-sufficient God, sustainer, and sovereign Ruler was all he needed.

Amidst the counsel of those who were inviting him to flee, along with the real difficulties he was facing, David is asking himself where else can he go.

The foundations of David’s kingdom, of his life, were being undermined. Was there any hope?

Many of us have committed our lives to the Lord, but there are times, when surrounded by many voices and facing a world that is crumbling, we are tempted to ask ourselves the same questions. Is there any hope?  What can we do?

It was during those times of fog that David did not forget what he had seen clearly in the light. He knew that God was reigning from above. Not only was He in control, but all His actions were motivated by His character. The LORD is holy and righteous; He reigns from a viewpoint totally different from what man could ever hope to see. God is watching. He never loses interest; He is never distracted, He sees the past, the present, and the future. He sees the motives and the thoughts that precede every action. How could we ever not trust Him? Although we know all this, we still act as if we know what the best outcome is and are disappointed when things do not go our way. Often we allow men to distract us from our firm resolve to trust in God.

Every time I have allowed my confusion or lack of satisfaction to lead my thoughts and actions, it has produced sin. Are there situations that are causing you to question God? Are you allowing a spirit of rebellion to grow within? Beware that God wants you to stop and recognize His rightful position as Ruler of all.

God wants us to recognize His righteousness, to desire righteousness, and to walk in righteousness. God loves it when, in times of testing, His children respond in righteousness.

God is active today, producing His righteousness in me and in you. He is pleased and glorified when we respond, by His power, in a godly fashion. Our lives are made up of many small decisions that can direct us toward, or away from, very big sins.

The righteous will behold His face! Our life on earth is so short, compared to eternity, yet we so frequently allow the temporal to rob us of our focus on the eternal. When we truly live for those things that matter, the things of the world lose their grip on us. May we learn to count our days!

Psalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

My goal is to allow God to teach me through trials, people, friends, and the Word, to use my days well. As I learn to give the right value to my days, my hours, my minutes, my seconds, I know that the Spirit will produce in me a wise heart. A wise heart is not distracted by voice of circumstances, for it never loses sight of our heavenly Father! A wise man listens to the LORD!

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SO MUCH SIN IN THE WORLD?

READ PSALM 10

ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED MORE FERVENTLY THAN UNBORN HUMANS

Psalm 10:1

Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

How often we are dismayed by the news stories that come across our media, and wonder that the Lord is allowing such rampant sinning against Him.

A godless world, with enemies of God seeming to have control, is not new. It was a problem thousands of years ago, just as it is today. The psalmist describes a world where the wicked oppress the poor, the powerful rule over the weak, men live to satisfy their own lusts, men boast of their wicked deeds, and, in their arrogance, they assert that there is no God. 

So many today are careless about God’s commands, and act as if they are in total control of their own lives.  

Watching the world superficially, one can see scarce cause for hope. The weak and the needy are severely oppressed, and are then tempted to wonder if God even cares or if He is really in control. 

Have you ever wondered where God is? Have you questioned if He really cares? There is so much evil in the world. Animals are protected more fervently than unborn humans. The wicked get richer, while the ones who are honest seem to be in continuous need. Families are victims of the behavior of the ungodly. Deranged people walk into schools, theaters, shopping malls, and kill innocent people. Diseases are causing young and old to suffer. Has God turned His face away? Has God forgotten His own?

The psalmist cries out to God for relief.  

Psalm 10:12

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;

forget not the afflicted. 

As I read this psalm, I cannot overlook the pain of some dear loved ones who are suffering right now. What is God doing? What does He want from us? What is our hope? 

My first thought is that God wants us to focus our trust upon His kingship and His will, rather than upon the pursuits of this passing world. He wants us to trust Him to deal justly with the wicked, who despise both the afflicted and God, Himself. (Psalm 10:3-11) 

1 John 2:15-17 

                Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.               

God wants our grip on the things of the world to be loosened. He wants us to desire Him more than anything else. He wants us to desire what is eternal. I know for sure that an easy life can be much more spiritually dangerous for us than injustice or material needs are. 

What a wonderful gift, to have our attention redirected to Him and become more and more able to see our dependence upon Him! 

Believers have nothing to fear:

1 Corinthians 15:54-55

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

                “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

                “O death, where is your victory?

                  O death, where is your sting?”

Paul had the right focus: an eternal perspective on both the present and the future. 

Philippians 1:21-26

                For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 

Paul knew that, as long as he was alive, he was to live for Christ.  He lived for the progress of the Gospel in the world and for the spiritual progress of believers. His comfort or safety was not what produced joy in him. 

The psalmist, in his cry to the LORD, did not lose faith, but was secure in God’s care. 

Psalm 10:16-18

The LORD is king forever and ever;

the nations perish from his land.

O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;

you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,

so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

The LORD is sovereign; He will take care of His own. He is totally aware of the needs of those who depend on Him. He will answer their cries in due time, and during the hardships, He will fortify their hearts. I have watched suffering believers grow closer to God and find in Him strength that was very surprising to the unbelievers who knew them. God is carefully involved in our lives; He is active in bringing us closer to Him. His work is to produce sanctification in us. He never stops, He is always timely, and He is always caring. 

May we, too, be totally aware of these truths, as we live in this world where the wicked seem to be prospering. May we never envy those who do not know the loving care of our heavenly Father.  May we grasp every opportunity to point men toward God and glorify our loving Shepherd.

WHY I DON’T PRAISE GOD? HERE ARE THE ANSWERS

A SYMPHONY OF PRAISE

READ PSALM 9

  

Psalm 9:1-2

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

David’s opening of Psalm 9 has caused me to reflect about why I find myself to be so prone to ungratefulness, rather than joyful thanksgiving to God. This quandary could be quickly answered with the fact that I am human and I am sinful. Both statements are true, and my reactions show their effect than I’d like. I do believe that at the core of fallen human nature is pride that produces an attitude of entitlement, which then produces demands, which produce unmet expectations. The results are sinful reactions ranging from frustration, to anger, to bitterness. No doubt all of this unhappiness grows from failing to recount the Lord’s wonderful deeds, and thank Him wholeheartedly.

The psalmist, David, is thankful in the midst of his trials; his whole heart is grateful to the LORD. The Creator and Sustainer of all is active, and David has chosen to recount the wonderful works of his God, be glad and exult in Him.

Taking the time to stop and think will encourage in every believer the same reactions that David displays in this psalm. What came to my mind was the ungrateful servant in Matthew 18, who, though mercifully forgiven an enormously-impossible debt, reacted shamefully, by heartlessly demanding repayment of a very small debt owed him by a fellow servant! How often have I done virtually the same thing, by my expectations and demands upon others, rather than learning grace from the great grace that the Lord has shown to me?!

Pride can so quickly cause us to have a wrongly enlarged view of ourselves and cloud our view of God. But David was glad, and exulted in the work that God had done in his life, and sang out his praise to the name of the Most High. David knew he was a sinful man. He had known the depth of despair over his sin, and thus truly appreciated the grace of God’s forgiveness.

In the following verses, David recognizes the fact that God is Sovereign of all. God does not overlook anything; all that happens is the result of God’s careful ordaining. God is righteous and just; He will bring justice in due time.

Psalm 9:13-14

Be gracious to me, O LORD!

See my affliction from those who hate me,

O you who lift me up from the gates of death,

that I may recount all your praises,

that in the gates of the daughter of Zion

I may rejoice in your salvation.

David knows very well that he cannot demand anything. His approach to the LORD can only be on the basis of God’s grace. He is just asking God to see his trouble and act according to His timing and justice, and his response will be one of praise. He will have yet another reason to praise the Lord of his salvation.

David knows that God is always faithful to His promises.

Psalm 9:4

For you have maintained my just cause;

you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

There has never been a moment when God failed or came short in His care and work on David’s behalf. This is also true in our lives. God has always done what He knows is best for us. When He has allowed us to go through trials, He was refining us, exposing our sinfulness so that we could repent and become the praising believers we should be.

 I will give thanks, I will recount, I will exult, and I will sing praise! These are the words that ought to come out of the mouth of a believer. David is such an example for us. This kind of heart-change towards God, people, and circumstances will produce a totally different outlook on life. We wonder why we don’t have peace: here is the answer. We wonder why we don’t love people the way we should: here is the answer. We wonder why circumstances produce wrong reactions: here is the answer.

May you and I stop to evaluate our hearts. May our words produce grace in those who hear us. One thing for sure, this is a lesson that is not learned once for all! Our hearts need to be guarded and our dependence upon God must be complete. This kind of praise brings glory to God and invites others to also worship the God we love.