(Read Psalm 14)
Sometimes the subtle things in life grab my attention more than the obvious ones. Just when I think I know God’s message for me in His word, I’m gently reminded, “Nope, read it again, my child.”
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus had just freed a tormented, demon-possessed man from his life of misery. After the man’s spiritual cleansing, he wanted to follow Jesus everywhere. He was a changed man and wanted to do something about it. Jesus, in His divine wisdom, had a better idea.
The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.
Luke 8:38-39
The story emphasizes the transformative power of Jesus and how He can impact our lives to the point of wanting to share the good news with others, especially people who would never usually do this. Jesus told the man to return home and tell others what God had done for him, but Luke subtly pointed out Jesus Christ’s deity in the next verse. “The man did as he was told, and he went throughout the city proclaiming how much Jesus had done for him.” God = Jesus.
This verse teaches us first to recognize God and our Savior, who provide life for us and aren’t limited to doing anything for us. It also illustrates our command to spread the gospel and bring others to Christ.
The healed man in Luke 8:39 was a Gentile, which means that he was not a member of the Jewish people. Jesus’ ministry was not and is not limited to the Jews but is open to healing and saving Gentiles too. God’s gift of salvation is available to everyone at any time.
Reading, pondering, and praying about this passage made me wonder what my life would be like without God.
Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!
Psalm 14:1
In this psalm, King David describes the futility of life without God. We’re aimless wanderers, lost like sheep without a shepherd. Worse than that, we’re blind, without vision, guidance, or direction. In my mind, living like this causes misunderstanding and overall questioning of our morals. If there’s no God, what’s right for me, must be OK because it feels good. If it’s good for me, then it’s good.
Family and friends don’t like to hear me refer to our world as fallen or godless. It probably sounds so medieval to them. The truth in my statement is undeniable. You can’t look at the atrocities of the Holocaust, killing fields in Cambodia, famine, and ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia, or thousands of abortions every day, and claim that the human world is good.
Accepting, exalting, and worshipping God doesn’t make this world good, but it changes how I live and view my life. Psalm 14 is a powerful portrayal of the godless world in which believers must live, injected with flashes of ultimate reality and God. It’s bad enough with people I don’t know, but it pains me when those I love believe there is no God. It’s incredibly frustrating when they cite happenings of the world as proof that they are right! Psalm 14 reminds me that no matter what they see, there is a greater good, and He is God. No matter what the non-believers claim, I know God is watching.
I used to love John Lennon’s song, “Imagine.” Musically, it’s a great song, but the lyrics have stripped my enjoyment of it. Lennon stated that if there were no religion, beautiful people could live in a beautiful world and live as one. He might be right regarding human-created religion and its baggage, but he’s light years away if he’s including the life of a faithful Jesus follower. I’ve done some research, and it turns out that most wars in recorded history were not a result of religious ideologies. Satan encourages deceit and doubt. He displays temporary false light to distract us from the truth of Jesus’ life-saving light. Chasing false light is like when you tease a cat with a flashlight. They’ll dart back and forth, trying to stomp and capture it — they’ll never get it. God’s light is always there, always visible. It’s a beacon in our stormy world—a lighthouse.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
Ecclesiastes 1:2
In Ecclesiastes, David’s son Solomon wrote about the meaninglessness of life without God. He says that “everything is meaningless” and that “there is nothing new under the sun,” concluding that “the best thing for us to do is to eat, drink merrily, and simply enjoy life. It doesn’t have to be meaningless, though; it’s only meaningless if you have no God in your life giving you purpose.
Life for a believer is about the King and His kingdom, not the journey home. Our final destination is more significant than the journey itself because the journey is about us; the destination is about Him. When we are content with all the trappings and happiness of the journey, we tend to settle, missing out on the ultimate reality and promise of God’s kingdom. Solomon presents a view of life through a human lens while at the same time recognizing the meaninglessness of life without a sovereign God.
Ecclesiastes connects the contemporary human, fallen world with the eternal truth of God’s word. When things have gone to “hell in a handbasket,” as some say, Ecclesiastes teaches us to trust in God despite the condition of the word. Ecclesiastes is the mirror that shows what truth looks like in a fallen world.
Pastor JD Greear compared the meaninglessness of life without God with riding a stationary bike. “No matter how much you pedal, you never go anywhere. A quick look around reminds you that you’re on a machine. And you’re in the same place where you started.”
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to
death.”
Proverbs 14:12
Any parents reading this devotional have experienced the torment of watching their children make a mistake we saw coming. As parents, we try to give them a foundation to embolden them to make the right choices and to live with morals and character. But sometimes they fail, just like we do. God wants the same for us. This Proverb warns against relying solely on human understanding and wisdom, which can lead to disastrous outcomes. God’s guidance gives us a greater view and experience of the greater Father. Our perspective and reasoning are one-dimensional. A divine perspective reflects the inherent fallibility of human perception and reason.
Parents sometimes see their children’s folly when they can’t see the unforeseen consequences themselves. Living a life with God has transformed my life not just once but every single day. I still struggle mightily with sin and weakness, but I’m not alone. There is a plan, a purpose, and a path for me. My Father, who knows me, is my guide. I’m more humble as a believer because whatever I thought I knew before was limited, based on my own understanding. What I know now all relies on God and His higher wisdom.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my
life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:6
Key Application:
- Read Psalm 14 and reflect on your beliefs about God. Do you know people who base their lives on a worldview? Engage in thoughtful discussions with them about faith and what Jesus Christ has done for you.
- Consider Christ-like principles when making decisions and cultivate Christ’s spirit in others by how you live.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.
