Have you ever met an agnostic? A nonbeliever accepts there is no God. Do you realize what God's reaction to that is? "The moron has said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalms 14:1).
While no Christian could actually be blameworthy of being a skeptic, numerous Christians are liable of being practical agnostics. Practical skepticism doesn't accept there is no God; practical secularism lives as though there is no God. Would you be able to be a practical agnostic?
THE PRACTICAL ATHEISM TEST
Notice the indicting likenesses among skepticism and practical agnosticism:
1. A nonbeliever doesn't implore. Countless Christians don't generally supplicate. They may murmur something with a bowed head before supper or before bed, yet there is no constant to look for God in supplication. The Lord says in the Book of James, "You don't have on the grounds that you don't ask" (Jas. 4:2).
2. A nonbeliever doesn't peruse the Bible. Countless Christians don't peruse the Bible. The normal Christian is truly defenseless to the demon's untruths since he/she doesn't set aside effort to peruse and contemplate God's Word.
3. An agnostic strolls by sight, not confidence. Endless Christians do something very similar. They neglect to assess their circumstance considering God's phenomenal force, so they stress and dread and neglect to just confide in God. How rapidly we overlook, "Without confidence it is IMPOSSIBLE to satisfy God" (Heb. 11:6).
4. A nonbeliever doesn't provide for the Lord's work. Endless Christians don't either. Numerous Christians spend more cash on their pets than they do the Kingdom of God. An ongoing measurement uncovered that if all the individuals in a normal estimated church were on government assistance, and every one gave, the providing for that congregation would twofold. Amazing!
5. An agnostic carries on with just for this life. Countless Christians are liable of the equivalent. They store up their fortune on earth. They live and plan as though this transitory, mortal life is the only thing that is in any way important. They settle on choices considering just earth, not paradise. The Bible says, "The eyes of a numb-skull are on the closures of the earth" (Prov. 17:24).
CHANGE ME, LORD!
On the off chance that a portion of those similitudes are dangerously close, don't sink down in blame and disgrace. Take care of business! Admit it as transgression, and request that God change your heart. Reveal to Him that you would prefer not to live one more day as though He were not alive and ready to work marvels.
The story is recounted Martin Luther, the incomparable Christian reformer of the 1500s. There was a period in his Christian life when he was extremely discouraged for quite a long time. His significant other, Kate, came into his examination all wearing dark as though she were in grieving. Luther asked her what exactly she was grieving:
"Have you not heard?" she addressed. "God is dead."
Luther reacted, "Lady! That is ridiculous! God isn't dead!"
"Well," she answered, "on the off chance that God isn't dead, at that point quit living as is He!"
My companion, God isn't dead, He is perfectly healthy. He actually answers supplication, He actually expresses through His Word, He actually favors when we honor Him with our abundance, He actually moves mountains when we come to Him with a mustard seed of confidence, He actually compensates the individuals who tenaciously look for Him.
Regardless of what you are confronting today, God is capable. Trust Him and trust Him!! Decide to live each day in the light of His essence. Keep in mind, His name is Jehovah Shammah, "the Lord ever-present." He is ever-present for you this day and consistently. Live like it!