Read Psalm 14. 1The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? 5There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 6You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. 7Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
The fool of Psalm 14 is no atheist; he is a defiant rebel against the rule and authority of God. But before we begin to see ourselves as better than these fools, let’s remember that when God looks down from heaven he sees none who does good, no not one (Rom. 3:10-12). Each and every sin is the act of a fool. Each and every sin is an act of defiance against God. Each and every sin screams, “I know better than you.”
Are you a sinner? Are you a fool?
But if we are all sinning fools, then how can anyone be righteous at the same time? If all have turned aside and become corrupt, then how can anyone be found in the refuge of God’s grace?
Because David’s prayer has been answered – Oh that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
Salvation came TO Zion in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus turned his face toward Jerusalem and didn’t flinch. He carried his cross up Zion’s hill. Never a fool, he became the poor in spirit that was shamed on the cross for us. Now in his resurrection glory he has become our spiritual refuge in this age. Our fortress of peace and hope. And one day he will return to Zion to bring this same internal peace to the whole cosmos. For God so loved the world.
To live is Christ allows us to humbly recognize our great sin but to confidently rely on our great salvation in Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Jesus, everyone else is a fool but you. Apply the wisdom of your grace and faith to our hearts today. Amen.
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To Live is Christ 