THE FOOL

Photo by B Smith from the Patio

 

 

49 - THE FOOL

July 17, 1960

Life of Triumph TV Broadcast Henry F. Kulp

 

Psalms 53: 1 - 3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The Bible is a wonderful book. It is God’s book. It is God speaking to us. If you want to know what God has to say to you, read and study the Bible, but the sad fact is, very few read and study the Bible. It is sad because what is more important than knowing what God has to say. I want to study with you this afternoon, a passage that has been neglected, or a passage that has been misunderstood by most folks.

1/ This passage is generally believed to be about the atheist—the one who professes he does not believe in God. But when you study the sentence itself, and the context of this portion of Scripture, you immediately recognize that it is not talking about one who does not believe in God. I have come to the conclusion that men may say they do not believe in God, but all men believe in God—It is just their lips speaking. They are trying to be smart, or trying to gain notoriety through their statements.

2/ This portion of Scripture is not even talking about the man who believes in God but says he does not. God, in this Scripture, is referring to mankind in general, and they are not saying they do not believe in God, but rather, they are saying, “NO, God”. You will notice that the words, there is, are in italics and that means they are not to be found in the original, but were supplied by the translators, so actually, the fool is saying, “NO” to God. And he is saying it in his heart—it is a deliberate statement.

3/ This sentence does not tell what the fool believes or thinks, but rather what he says in his heart. He is answering God and saying, “NO, I don’t want you, or your ways”.

A Scriptures that helps to explain this portion is found in Romans 1: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Here is where mankind says, NO to God. They knew God, but they refused to glorify Him as God. And finally changed the glory of God into an image.

Romans 1: 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

He tells us they did not want to retain God in their knowledge, and this statement in the original language means to put to the test for approval. So they put God to the test and did not approve. They said, NO, to God, and made a God of their own choosing.

4/ What this passage is actually saying is that man in his sinful state does not want God in his affairs. Take BUSINESS you can’t take God into business. Business is business, you know. Sometimes you have to cut corners, sometimes you have to be unethical, but one has to earn a living.

SOCIAL LIFE

You can’t just go out and insult folks, you wouldn’t have any friends, so man says, NO, God, you can’t enter into this portion of my life.

PLEASURE

Folks always say, you have to have some fun.

POLITICS

You can’t get votes by being Godly, you have to be a regular fellow, be down on the voters level, if you want to win their votes.

5/ As God looks down from Heaven, He says the fool is saying NO to Me, and He means all of mankind. Then notice Verse 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

This is worse than verse one. There is none that understandeth, none that seeketh after God. God scoured the earth and He could not find one who wanted His help, or was willing to cry out, “Lord, what must I do?” Mankind wants NO PART OF GOD.

6/ Remember Adam, he went into sin. And you remember what he did. He ran and hid from God—He was a sinner under the condemnation of God, and he didn’t seek God’s help—he didn’t ask God, “What must I do”—he just ran and hid. God had to call to him.

Genesis 3: 8, 9 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Adam, Where art thou? What was Adam’s explanation, “I was afraid—I hid myself”. Instead of seeking God’s help, he cried out, NO, God, and mankind has ever followed in the steps of Adam.

7/ There is no need for us to hide from God. God has approached us, and given to us the right to approach Him through Jesus Christ. For He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Don’t hid from God...He saw you there in your hiding place before your were born. You were already ON HIS MIND.

AMEN

Ref: 07/17/1960 / 49 - THE FOOL / 05/23/2022