Use it or Lose it…

Along with Smith’s devotional, I’m reading Stephen Charnock’s amazing “Existence and Attributes of God” — a definite faith-builder and classic written in 1853. Today’s reading says reason shows there is a God yet as Scripture says, this knowledge is suppressed by doing evil.

In a similar way, Smith’s devotional says that the NT believers had no doubt about God and there would be no growth of the Christian faith if they were filled with the doubts and questions of the modern church. From this readings, I see two things.

One, the modern Christian is not reading and being informed by the Bible as those early believers  were relying on the Scriptures that they had.

Two, the modern Christian is not in the Word of God and not obedient to it, however many profess faith but suppress the truth they do know by living unrighteous lives. Too many Christians are behaving as worldly people and their behavior is ruining their faith.

Charnock points to the “atheistical bubblings” in human hearts and his observations could apply to Christians. We, at times, live by our own thoughts and ideas, denying God simply by ignoring His will and instead doing our own thing. Practical atheism, if it becomes a habit of life, is a faith-killer. It fits those described as people who: “profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” (Titus 1:16)

This is not to say these people actually do know God but that they are professing faith, which is distinct from a true knowledge of God. Today’s churches are occupied by many who profess faith but it is not real. It means they live a secret atheism and that failure to trust God is the root of all the wickedness in our world. It is also the root of all powerless in the church.

Charnock also says that by reason, God is known to exist. The Bible says it also:

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 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. (Romans 1:19–21)

The prior verse explains what happens: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)

Whatever else people might know about God, all people know He exists. Yet if that understanding is suppressed by sin, then evil begins to win the human heart. Charnock puts it this way:

The existence of God is the foundation of all religion.We cannot pay God a due and regular homage unless we understand him in his perfections, what he is; and we can pay him no homage at all, unless we believe that he is.

His words fit with this NT truth: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Popular thought has kicked God out of schools, public and political activities, and much of life. Unlike the NT days where no one doubted that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him, we live in a world where evil is suppressing righteousness and that doubt about God is affecting Christians and the church. It has become very necessary to urge God’s people to daily consider God and His nature lest that wickedness which overflows in the world also overflows in the lives of God’s people.

PRAY: Jesus, I am so very thankful that You said You would build Your church and the gates of hell could not prevent it. As I listen to world news and as I talk with other Christians, I can see how the evil that is outside is a threat to those of us who have been saved from it. We put ourselves in danger by not clinging to what we know, and by not seeking and obeying You. Most important is reading, studying, meditating on and doing what Your Word says, telling others about You, and being willing to die rather than deny the truth You have given us. We can overcome because:

Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And we have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony, for they love not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:10–11, slightly personalized)