PSALM 14:1: THE EFFECT OF DISBELIEF
The Bible criticizes disbelief on
many occasions. Disbelief is often the result of pride and arrogance, and often
we do not realize the effects of disbelief until it is too late. The first
verse of Psalm 14 speaks of disbelief and specifically of disbelief in not only
God but in a god at all. It also speaks to the effects of disbelief and
specifically the effects of disbelief in a god.
Psalm 14:1
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Fool Says, There Is No God
To the choirmaster. Of David.
14 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.
Disbelief
The
first step toward these negative effects is disbelief, specifically disbelief
in a god. The psalmist tells us that the fool denies in his heart that there is
a god. This verse may be taken two different ways, the first of which is
denying that there is a higher power. This is the state of many people in our
world and has been for thousands of years. It is easy to deny the existence of
a higher power because we often choose not to see and look for the proof, of
which there is plenty. This verse may also be taken as the denial of God, the
one true God of the universe. This is, in fact, far more common than simply
denying the existence of a higher power. Many agnostics acknowledge the
existence of a higher power but refuse to acknowledge the existence of God
himself.
What
is the importance of the heart in this verse? The fact is that even if a fool
reasoned things out in his mind, he would have no choice but to acknowledge the
existence of at least a god if not God himself. This is why this verse presents
the fool denying God in his heart. The heart represents the seed of the
emotions in the Bible, and in this case, the fool has disregarded God in his
heart, not his mind.
Many
of us might ask how this verse applies to us. It is sad but true though that
many believers live a life disconnected from God and live life as if he does
not exist. This is practical atheism, acknowledging God with the mouth but
denying him in the heart. This is the fool Psalm 14:1 speaks of. It is one
thing to acknowledge God with the mouth but another to acknowledge him as Lord
with the heart. We often see this verse as referring to atheists, but it is not
only referring to atheists but people who profess Christ as well. Have we truly
acknowledged in our hearts that God is Lord?
Corruption
The
effect of disbelief and denial is corruption. This verse tells us that the one
who says in his heart that there is not a God is corrupt and does abominable
deeds. This is the effect of disbelief. Even in the lives of Christians,
disbelief on a micro level is present, and often the result is corruption. We
must keep ourselves from falling into this trap by living in constant belief
and trust in our Savior.
Conclusion
It
is apparent from this passage that corruption and evil is the effect of
disbelief. We must not assume, however, that this applies only to atheists. We
should realize that this applies to all people, especially believers. We may
believe that God exists, but does it go beyond that or stop there? The effect
of all disbelief is corruption. Let us then believe.
