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The Fool

January 22, 2016 | by: Scott Denny | 0 comments

This morning (December 4), I opened my Bible and turned to Psalm 53:1 and read, “The fool has said in his heart “there is no God”.

the-fool copyI can’t tell you how many times I’ve read that verse and loved the fact that this verse was not about me and could not be about me because I know there is a God and even better He knows me.

I sat high on my throne of judgment and looked upon the fool and thanked God I was not him. I only saw the fool as that poor soul who is far from God.

We all know this fool and ones like him. We all pray that God would save the fools in our families, our neighborhoods, schools, and our workplace. But today my eyes were opened to God’s grace and mercy while my own foolishness and self-righteousness were exposed because, in fact, I was the fool.

For the first time I see that this verse is about me. This is who I was before God’s grace and mercy redeemed from an eternity without Him. Funny how I always looked at this verse and felt pity for those who deny God, not realizing I once lived the life of this very fool spoken of in Psalm 53.

I was the fool because prior to God’s saving grace I lived my life like there was no God. Sure I could declare with my lips that there is a God. I could even declare that His Son, Jesus, died for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. But like the fool of Psalm 53, I lived a life of corruption and iniquity (v1b). At the root of my existence, I was my own god and I did whatever pleased my god. I was the fool.

In my foolishness, I valued only myself and my desires and for the first time I now see that the fool is each of us, before God mercifully delivers us. It seems so clear to me now, but I couldn’t see it before.

I couldn’t see it before today because perhaps in my own self-righteousness I functionally thought and believed that I did something to merit God’s favor. Yes, I am saved by the grace and mercy of God, and this is not of my own doing. My salvation is in fact a precious gift from God. But at the root of my scoffing at the fool and those like him must be a false belief that God saw something in me that drew Him to me. Rather the gospel truth is that there is nothing in me that can please a Holy God, therefore I am and was in desperate need of a Redeemer to bring me to Him. What a humbling truth that but for the grace of God I would still be the fool.

Do you sometimes forget this great gospel gem? That you were the fool? Maybe take a moment and remember your story? What path were you headed down before God intervened? You too were the fool, but God, because of the great love with which he loved you, awakened you from your foolishness and delivered you into the kingdom of Christ.

And yet, while that sweet gospel truth is a praise-filled reality there remains this tension for the believer. On the one hand I was the fool, but on the other hand there are times when I still think, speak and act like the same fool.

There are moments throughout each day where I live like there is no God who sits enthroned in heaven [Ephesians 2:9] and redeemed me with his own precious blood [1 Peter 1:19]. I use my words like there is no God who hears [Psalm 139:4]. I use my thoughts like there is no God who discerns [Psalm 139:2]. I use my eyes like there is no God who sees [2 Chronicles 16:9]. I use my time, my talent and my treasure like there is no God who gives [Job 1:21].

On and on it goes.

How can this be? How can a follower of Christ live like the fool of Psalm 53:1? It is the very enigma Paul considered in Romans 7:15, 24 when he declared “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… wretched man that I am”

I am Paul’s ‘wretched man’ because there are moments in my life when I elevate my wants and my desires above the worship of my Lord and my Savior. There are moments when my fear of people is elevated above my fear of God. In those moments, I believe (sinfully and foolishly) that my own comfort and my own reputation when threatened must be protected at all costs. In those moments, the god of comfort is elevated above the GOD of All Comfort. [2 Corinthians 1:2]

My words will defend my god by harsh speech. My thoughts will defend my god by justifying how I use my time. My actions will glorify my god by rejecting the Glory of the One True God. In those moments, I live, think and speak like the fool.

I live like the fool because I believe the lie that the God of all comfort cannot comfort me. I speak like the fool because I believe the lie that my reputation must be defended at the expense of God’s reputation. I think like the fool because I believe the lie that things of this world can satisfy me rather than fighting to cling to the One who is my satisfaction, my joy, my peace.

Can you sense my frustration? Do you ever feel this tension? This feeling of being lured away from what you know to be true and yet taking the bait anyway? It’s the tension that lead Paul - and now you and me - to cry out and plead, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” [Romans 8:24]

Paul experienced what we all experience. That unavoidable tension - that unavoidable war that is being waged in our hearts between indwelling sin and God’s Spirit. [Galatians 5:17] It is an unavoidable tension that can lead us to despair, doubt, and hopelessness. But in the midst of that tension I am convinced there sits a greater truth. In the midst of that tension reigns a greater proposition that can instantaneously turn Paul (and us!) from hopelessness to hopefulness. In the midst of self-condemnation and guilt, he instantly rejoices “Praise be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” [Romans 7:25a]

He rejoices because the greater proposition is that gospel of Jesus Christ is the very power of God unto salvation! [Romans 1:16] He rejoices because the gospel is the power of God to set prisoners free from condemnation, guilt and shame. [Luke 4:18] He rejoices because the gospel reminds him that though sin remain in him it has no power over him [Romans 6:6, 7]. He rejoices because the gospel reminds him that should he stumble and fall there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:1] He rejoices because he is no longer a slave to sin but is now a slave to righteousness. [Romans 6:18] He rejoices because that righteousness is not his own - it is Christ’s - and it is that righteousness, it is His righteousness that declares my debt has been paid, my sins have been forgiven, I am free from the guilt of failure, and free from the shame of sin [2 Corinthians 5:21]. I am free to live like a man who can say no to the god of comfort and say yes to the God of All Comfort.

Preaching the gospel to myself reminds me that I have hope! I have hope that the power of Christ in me gives me strength and grace to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. [Titus 2:12] I have hope that I am being changed from glory to glory [2 Corinthians 3:18]. I have hope that though I stumble and fall, my God will never leave me nor forsake me [Hebrews 13:5].

I have hope that the mind of Christ in me gives me the humility to confess my sin to a loving Father who promises to forgive me over and over again. [Philippians 2:5 and 1 John 1:9] I have hope that this very mind of Christ will cause me to walk humbly as I seek to love and serve others ahead of my own wants and desires. [Philippians 2:3]

I have hope that the Spirit of Christ is at work in me molding me and shaping me into the very image of Jesus Christ. [Philippians 2:13 and 2 Corinthians 3:18] I have hope that the saving work done in me will one day be complete and that the man I am now will not be the man I am tomorrow.

scott-dennyI have hope that the people of Christ around me will speak truth in love to me and encourage me and help me to see where I disbelieve this gospel truth. [Ephesians 4:15, Hebrews 3:13] I therefore have hope that I am not alone in this walk and that can be of great comfort as I stumble and fall.

The hope of the gospel also reminds me that though I may at times act like the fool, in the end, I am most certainly not the fool of Psalm 53:1 because the gospel assures me that I am a child of the most high God. [Romans 8:15-16] I am beloved, holy and blameless in the eyes of God, and I am no longer his enemy. It is this hope, it is this gospel truth that compels me to no longer live like the fool but to walk worthy of the Lord seeking to fully please Him. [2 Corinthians 5:14 with Colossians 1:10]

Perhaps you too struggle with the tension of the fool in Psalm 53:1. If so go back and remember and reflect upon the truths of the gospel.

You are free. You are no longer the fool to the praise of His glorious grace.

Scott Denny is a Pastor at Grace Bible Church

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