The Fool Forgets God
Notes
Transcript
The Fool Forgets God
Text: Psalm 14:1 (KJV 1900)
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good.
Introduction:
* According to our text verse this morning, the ultimate definition of a fool is the person who tries to convince himself that there God did not create him.
* A fool forgets God his creator.
* There is also another kind of person who is a fool this morning.
* This is the person who will acknowledge that there is a God, and even believes what the Bible says is the truth, but lives as if there is not really a God.
* This is what is called a “practical atheist.”
* A practical atheist is the kind of person likes to think of himself as a good person, he believes the Bible, but he ignores, or forgets what the Bible says.
* This kind of person says he is a Christian, will occasionally go to church. He or she may sing in the choir or in a singing group.
* He or she might be a member of a youth group in a church, or maybe be involved in some ministry like Second Chances Youth Ranch even.
* The practical atheist doesn’t have a problem with religion or good works.
* The practical atheist the truth God’s existence by his actions. He acts like there is no God.
* The practical atheist has no problem hearing the commandments of Jesus, but he never acts on God’s commandments.
* He claims to be a Christian, but when he ought to be in church, he is out on the lake with his family or out in the woods hunting with his buddies.
* The practical atheist has no fear of God. The practical atheist knows that death and judgment are coming, but he is able to ignore the truth.
* He doesn’t deny the truth, he just doesn’t do anything about it.
* He doesn’t come to Jesus for salvation, and he doesn’t teach his children and warn them about sin and judgment.
* My friend, this morning don’t think that just because you don’t call yourself an atheist, you are not an atheist. Don’t think that if you say that there is a God, you believe God exists.
* If you don’t act on the knowledge that God is real- if you don’t live like God is real- if you don’t fear God enough to obey his commandments you are still an atheist!
* No matter what you say about God, if you don’t fear Him and obey His commandments, you qualify as a fool this morning.
* Turn with me to Matthew 7 and verse 21 this morning.
Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV 1900)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I. Jesus had much to say about the foolish man who forgets God.
Matthew 7:21-29 (KJV)
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
A. Jesus told a story about foolish man thought life is all about the things which he possesses.
Luke 12:13-21 (KJV)
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Mark 8:35-37 (KJV)
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
B. God warned the Children of Israel not to let their possessions cause them to forget God.
Deuteronomy 8:10-20 (KJV)
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; 17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
C. Like the foolish man in our text who built his house upon sand, the man who forgets God will suddenly be destroyed.
1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Proverbs 29:1)
* The reference here to “hardeneth his neck” is a reference to a horse
that is obstinate and can’t be trained.
II. The foolish man doesn’t have time for God.
* Jesus told the story of another foolish man who forgot God in Luke chapter 16 and verses 19-31:
Luke 16:19-31 (KJV)
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
A. He fared sumptuously every day.
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
* This foolish man let his riches cause him to forget about God.
* This man was lulled to sleep by the Devil with the shiny trinkets this
world has to offer.
* The Devil’s plan is to keep men busy with the things the world has to
offer so we will not think about the realities of life like death and
judgment.
B. He forgot that he was going to die.
* Like this man, you and I also are going to die.
* Parents- have you prepared you children to die? Are they going to be prepared to stand before god on Judgment day, or have they forgot God?
* Jesus told a parable about how that a sower sowed seeds upon the ground:
-Some seed fell on hard ground
-Some seed fell in the weeds
* The sower represents one who proclaims the truth of God’s Word, the Bible.
* Jesus himself- The preacher- The Sunday school teacher- Godly parents who have taught their children- all have sown the truth of God’s Word upon the hearts of men.
* Everyone in this room this morning knows that we have an appointment with God to be judged.
Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
* The truth of God has been sown in our hearts, but the Devil is determined to choke that truth out and make us forget God this morning.
* Satan uses the pleasures of this world to drug us and keep us from
thinking with a critical mind of the reality of life, death and Judgment.
* Jesus described this when interpreted for His disciples what the story of the sower meant in Mark chapter 4 and verse 18:
Mark 4:18-19 (KJV)
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
* The awfulness of death has been covered up by the Devil.
* Death is hidden by hospitals and drugs to the point that we don’t fear
the reality of death.
* We are so conditioned by our society that there is no real
consequences for our behavior.
* All these things are revealed in the Bible, but Satan does everything he
can to keep us from thinking about what the Bible warns about.
* My grandfather passed down the story of a dying man screaming
“They are pulling me down to Hell!”
C. He didn’t think hell was real.
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments,
D. He forgot there was a judgment day.
* Most have heard that there is coming a judgment day, but they have forgotten about it.
* This was the case of the rich man.
* We need not forget those awful words written in Revelation chapter 20 that tell us of what happens to those who have heard the truth, but forgot that judgment day was coming:
Revelation 20:12-15 (KJV)
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
* I ask you this morning, have you been going about your life, fluffing up your little nest, bring all the good things you can find for yourself, but not knowing that just around the corner a great and terrible storm is coming!
* My Friend, if you have not yet come to the Lord to be saved your are the object of the fierce wrath of God!
* There is a terrible and awful storm of the wrath of God coming for the man who has forgot God in his life!
Psalm 7:11–13 (AV)
God is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. 13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death…
Jeremiah 46:10 (AV)
10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood…
* The bow of God’s fierce wrath is drawn back-
- the bow strains with the pressure of the string
- and the arrow is ready on the string
- the arrow is pointed at your soul this morning
- nothing but the mere whim of God, and that of an ANGRY God, from being made drunk with your blood!
* The wrath of God is like a great ocean that is dammed up for the time being. The waters build up more and more and higher and higher. The longer the flow of God’s wrath is dammed up, the more force will be released when the dam breaks.
* The foods of God’s vengeance against your sin have been withheld temporarily. Your guilt in the meantime has been constantly increasing.
* You are every day treasuring up more and more of the wrath of God.
* If God were to let go of the flood gate, the fiery floods of the fierceness of God’s wrath would rush forth with terrible furry and would come upon you with all the power that God possesses!
* My friend, who are you to be able to withstand the fierceness of the wrath of God?
* Little bird, there is a storm coming! You should be concerned with fluffing up you nest, you should be seeking shelter from the storm!
Isaiah 13:6–11 (AV)
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity…
Jeremiah 46:10 (AV)
10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
* Listen to the words of Jonathan Edwards from the sermon “sinners in the Hands of a angry God”
There are black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth upon you.
The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.
That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of; there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.
E. He didn’t realize there were no second chances.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
F. He waited too late to be concerned about his family.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
* The anguish of a parent over a suffering child is terrible.
* The anguish I felt when Tim screamed for help in the emergency room.
* I had a dream about Thomas falling into a hole.
* The anguish in Hell of parents who didn’t warn them of the reality of
Hell.
Matthew 13:47-50 (KJV)
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 14:10-11 (KJV)
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night…
G. The only chance his family had was to hear the preaching of
God’s Word.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Conclusion:
* Are you going to die like the wise man who built his house
upon the rock of God’s Word.
* Or will you be like the foolish man, whose final judgment is
coming, but he is not even aware that his destruction is right
around the corner.
* Have you warned your children of the reality of Hell and
judgment to come?
* Will your children cry out in Hell “Daddy!, why didn’t you
warn me about this place of torment!”