"The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good." - Psalm 14:1
In the history of Israel in the Old Testament there was a generational pattern. A generation that knew God, a generation that knew about God and a generation that did not know God. Psalm 14 speaks to that generation. Today - those generations co-exist among the people of the world. There are those know God by faith in Jesus. Those who know about God and are attracted to some aspects of the Christian faith or practice some other faith and are merely religious. And then those who deny that there is a sovereign God. The United States is known to the world as a "Christian" nation, but that is not true. It was founded on Christian principles but is secular in practice.
The group that does not know God is easy to identify. But there are those who say there is a God - maybe even that they are born again when they are not. They wear a faith label like a moniker. They may even consider themselves to be "non-practicing". They say it to win you over. To trust them. To embrace them. Just because a person says they know God does not mean that they do. Their life and speech life may be a testimony or reputation among men but their hearts will give testimony to God.
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
The prophet Samuel was sent to anoint the new king after God rejected King Saul. God told him that God did not choose a man because of his appearance to men but because of the devotion of the man's heart to God.
People can talk about God and say the right things all the while, their hearts can be far from God.
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
As a Christian, to know the difference requires spiritual discernment. I have learned that if you listen to people talk long enough eventually they will reveal their hearts. When speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said .....
"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." - Matthew 12:34-35
People, in an attempt to win others over may speak about spiritual things without having been born again. There may be people like that sitting next to you in church even. Our challenge is to discern the difference. Do not be deceived. We must be able to know the true Believers from the "false prophets, as it were. People who work in banks learn to identify money that is counterfeit by studying the real thing. And so should we.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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