My post last week on funny-man and outspoken atheist George Carlin’s death and subsequent conversion to the ranks of ‘those who now believe in God’ has been the most read of any of my posts this year. I’ve come to a few conclusions based on who I’ve um…. ‘chatted’ with and some comments I’ve moderated that have been so foul-mouthed and anti-God that I didn’t even allow the people the pleasure of airing their satanic comments on my blog.
It seems to me that once again, scripture is true when it says:
Matthew 10:22
…and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:9
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
Mark 13:13
And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Luke 21:17
You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
John 15:18
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
John 15:24
If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 15:25
But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
Now, if you don’t agree with someone, that’s fine. I probably disagree with quite a few people even among my Christian brothers about theology, politics, how they raise their kids or whatever. It seems to me, however, that the root of this particular disagreement with my assessment of an atheist’s ultimate future is not based solely on the beliefs of those posting. No. There is something deeper here; something more spiritual in nature. There is an underlying hatred of God himself. There is an underlying hatred of even the mention of the NAME of JESUS CHRIST! Why is this? There isn’t even this much hatred when someone mentions the names Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Buddha, Vishnu, Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, Benny Hinn, Muhammad or even Hitler. Why is this? I believe it’s because man’s totally depraved nature (how we are before regeneration) is being allowed to run its course according to God’s ultimate plan. God hasn’t lost control of anything and isn’t hurt by name-calling, spitting and verbal abuse. As Philippians 2: 10, 11 state, “…so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” One day, every human will bow down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I just wish I could get it through the thick skulls of some of my new ‘friends’.
However, the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Romans, chapter 3: 10-18:
“…as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
You see, THIS is how the Bible describes the nature of man. This is why I argue in my writings that according to scripture, man on his own WILL NEVER SEEK GOD. We are, by nature, CHILDREN OF WRATH. It takes a regeneration of the Holy Spirit before one is even CAPABLE of seeking God.
Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2:
2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
There exists a hatred within the very human nature toward the Creator God. As time draws to a close, this hatred gets stronger. This is what has shown itself to me this week as I duked it out with people that are probably very intelligent, but have absolutely no interest in the things of God because in their minds, He doesn’t exist. Human nature tells you He doesn’t exist. Satan tells you He doesn’t exist. We don’t WANT him to exist prior to regeneration because that would mean we’re accountable to someone, wouldn’t it? With no God in the picture, we’re golden, right?! No God, no worries!! Woo hoo!
This exercise has been very educational and has done nothing but reinforce my gratefulness to a God who, though I was dead in my sin, sought me out, gave me new life and secured my destiny via the cross of Christ!!!! I did nothing; I can’t boast. He did everything!!
Now, TO MY NEW ATHEIST ‘FRIENDS’: a verse from the “5000 year old mythical fairytale old testament book of Job”:
Job 32:8
But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
You’ll never get it until you get IT. Get it? I’ll pray you do one day.
Sola scriptura, Sola fide, Sola gratia, Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria!!!
~David