There is no God?

Psalm 14

For July 26, 2009

Proper 12

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." This is how Psalm 14 begins. The Psalm then continues, not to provide justification for believing in God but rather to provide a diagnosis of Man's condition. The diagnosis is stated this way:

"The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one."

What is our greatest problem as human beings? That we haven't submitted to Allah as suggests Islam? That we haven't acknowledged that the spiritual world is a farce as suggests secularism? That we haven't come to acceptance of the oneness of everything as suggests Buddhism? No. Our greatest problem is that we are alienated from God as evidenced in our lack of interest in God, our corruption both corporately and individually, and our utter inability to do anything good out of completely pure motives.

What is the solution? Simple: "Call on the Lord" (v. 4), "for God is in the present of the righteous." We do not become righteous because we will ourselves to righteousness but because God in his grace implants his righteousness within us through Christ's death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

"Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion when the Lord restores the fortunes of his people." Salvation has come out of Zion in Christ and this offer stands today for you and me. I invite you today to join me in calling on the Lord that our fortunes might be restored together.