It is remarkable to comprehend the unconditional love of God, who does not withdraw the bestowed wisdom from individuals even when they deny His existence. In society, we encounter religious extremists who employ violence to coerce individuals into renouncing their own faith and adopting theirs. It is understandable that people express concern about their intentions. These individuals have created their own religion and seek to propagate it. However, they did not create people, and therefore, they show little regard for the lives and salvation of others.
On the contrary, God is the creator of humanity and grants them the gift of free will to choose between life and death. He grants individuals the freedom to utilize their wisdom as they see fit. Nonetheless, God continuously showers His grace upon them, offering countless opportunities to perceive Him. Despite this, people deny the existence of God, the very being who has bestowed upon them this wondrous life, and instead squander it, leading to a dreadful destiny.
There Is No One Who Does Good
The fool says in his heart,
Psalm 53:1-3 (NIV)
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
God looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.
The opening line of this Psalm, “The fool says in his heart,” conveys a stern message, expressing our strong disapproval of those who do not share our perspective. It is important to remember that God grants knowledge and wisdom to everyone. Therefore, Jesus cautions us about the repercussions of addressing our fellow human beings as “fools.” But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell (Matthew 5:22).
The Psalmist expresses concern about atheists who deny the existence of God, as well as agnostics who choose not to engage with this topic. Neither the believers who claim the existence of God nor the non-believers who reject it can conclusively prove their positions. While the Psalmist attributes the corruption and vileness of people to their lack of belief, it is worth considering the hypocrisy of those who profess belief in God yet exhibit corrupt and immoral behavior. This suggests that only the true belief in the existence of God should naturally keep individuals away from corruption and sin.
The Psalmist, a deeply devout believer in God, experienced a strong sense of God’s constant vigilance. God actively seeks individuals who have a genuine understanding of Him. In a broader context, the devil tempts ordinary people to imitate the lifestyle of those who reject God. This causes them to turn away from the truth, as they lack the patience to discern right from wrong. Such individuals pose numerous thought-provoking questions, yet they do not wait for answers, as they are preoccupied with ungodly pursuits.
Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, Paul arrived at a genuine realization. Despite humanity’s collective propensity for sin, the grace of God offers redemption, sparing them from the consequences of their transgressions. It is written, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:23-24). Yet, even today, there are individuals who dismiss the remedial work of God and persist in corrupt ways. Their viewpoint contends that since no one is inherently good, why bother striving for goodness?
Knowing Nothing Of The Consequences
Do all these evildoers know nothing?
Psalm 53: 4-5 (NIV)
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.
God scattered the bones of those who attacked you;
you put them to shame, for God despised them.
The Psalmist inquired whether evil-doers are aware of the consequences of their actions. The answer is affirmative: they are indeed aware of the consequences but, due to their ingrained cruelty, they find themselves unable to break free from it. Only when a person comprehends the goodness of God will they strive to seek righteousness. Often, their desire to engage in evil blinds them from recognizing the benevolence of God. Cain serves as a prime example of such individuals.
However, the Psalmist provided solace to the faithful who constantly face threats due to the actions of wrongdoers. The Psalmist assured them that God will avenge them. This declaration of God’s retribution might have been inspired by the harrowing event of Pharaoh and his army perishing in the Red Sea.
It is intriguing to observe that individuals who disseminate fear in our lives often fear trivial matters. It is believed that God is the one who implants fear in their hearts, in order to safeguard His people from their insatiable bloodlust. In the historical account of King Ben-Hadad’s siege on Samaria, the Lord caused the Arameans to hear the sounds of chariots, horses, and a vast army. This led them to mistakenly conclude that the king of Israel had enlisted the aid of the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack them. Consequently, they hastily fled in the twilight, abandoning their tents, horses, and donkeys, leaving their camp intact (2 Kings 7:6-7, NIV).
Whenever we encounter instances of God’s retribution in the Old Testament, it is essential to remind ourselves of the boundless grace of God that still remains available to save sinners, instead of seeking vengeance upon them. In the case of Jesus’ crucifixion, God did not retaliate against those responsible. Rather, in response to Jesus’ prayer from the cross, God the Father exhibits a thorough willingness to extend forgiveness to all. Let us avoid leading ourselves towards self-destruction by erroneously perceiving the misfortune of our enemies as a just retribution from God.
Salvation Would Come
Amidst the turbulent circumstances, there is always a glimmer of hope for the true believers that God will restore them. This hope, pertaining to our redemption, emanates from God, who is not only the originator but also the ultimate fulfiller of our faith. Such a mindset can prevail within us only when we cease assuming the dreadful fate of our adversaries and entrust them to the merciful jurisdiction of God. Adopting this approach allows us to exult in God and find solace in His benevolent actions. Indeed, we have the liberty to choose our Redeemer.
Loving Father, we humbly ask for your guidance in cultivating a reverence for you rooted in love, rather than driven by any sense of threat. Grant us the strength to relinquish our fears concerning mundane matters, as we place our trust in you.
The Jordan Valley 
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