How Not To Be A Fool

Islington Baptist Church September 11, 2005

Psalm 53:1-3 Scriptures: 1 Samuel 25, Romans 1:18-32, Psalm 1

How not to be a fool

Webster’s dictionary defines a fool as “a person who lacks good judgment”.

Brainstorm with me for a moment. What examples can you think of that illustrate foolish behavior?

-Nabal (whose very name literally means fool) not giving David and his men some food, even though David and his men had protected him and been a blessing to him. 1 Samuel 25

-waiting to the last minute to complete an assignment

-pulling out into traffic when there is no reasonable gap to pull into

-buying non essentials on credit

-ignoring warning signs such as “Bridge out,” "Wet paint,” or “Fence is electrified”

In Psalm 53:1-3, which we are going to study together this morning, it says, “The fool says in his heart, ’There is no God.” READ TEXT

I. Why is the assertion that there is no God so foolish?

The simple answer is: Because God’s existence is so obvious

a. Simple logic dictates that God exists:

While many persuasive human arguments for God’s existence abound (at least 20 diverse and well thought out ones), my favorite one is the design argument.

The complexity, beauty and order of our planet points to a deliberate designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.

Consider these amazing facts:

i. The size of the earth is perfect. If the Earth was smaller, maintaining an atmosphere would be impossible because of the effect of gravity. If the Earth were larger, the atmospheric mixture would be incorrect to sustain plant, animal, and human life.

ii. The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. If we were farther away we would all freeze. If we were closer, we’d all fry.

iii. Our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth. The Moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet it restrains our massive oceans from spilling over across the continents.

iv. Our entire genetic code is stored in 2 cells. An egg and a sperm. When these 2 get together, when all goes right, the result is us.

Thousands of other examples exist. They all point to this: Design, order, beauty, complexity.

Such things cannot happen by chance. “Chance” is not an adequate explanation for order, complexity, beauty, and design. As a watch on the ground in a forest points to a watchmaker, all that is around us points to God. His signature is everywhere.

B. While simple logic dictates that God exists, the Scriptures, which are far more authoritative than human arguments, proclaim the existence of God.

In Psalms 19:1-4 the Word of God says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

In Romans 1:18-20 the Scriptures say, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

II. Why, in spite of the evidence, do people persist in saying things like, “there is no God”?

a. On the human level, people sometimes say such things because:

1. That is what they have been taught by others

2. They have a hard time comprehending why God allows suffering in the world

3. Deep down, in their heart of hearts, they want to do their own thing. They want to live and do as they please. They hate good and love evil.

b. Psalm 53:1 says people say such things because, “They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;”

What strong language. What a shocking assessment. Yet this is God’s judgment. This is God’s analysis of the human heart.

It’s not just people who say “There is no God” who are sinners and rebels against God and under his wrath…

III. "We are all sinners and by nature the objects of the wrath of God." Psalms 53:2-3, Ephesians 2:1-3

“God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Psalms 53:2-3

This is not the first time that the Bible categorically states that every naturally born person is a sinner. Right in the first book of the Bible in Genesis 6:5 it says, “the LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.”