The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

                                                                 Psalm 14:1a 

Atheism is one of the most difficult positions to take in this life. It requires that one declare all knowledge of the universe. One must have experienced everything there is to experience. And it requires an effort in ignoring the Creator responsible for all of the wonderful beauty that comes through creation. Not so for the believer. Just one moment with God, one experience of His presence, or one piece of spiritual knowledge is all that is required to know that there is a God.

Today’s passage refers to those who would declare, “There is no God” as foolish. This passage hits at the heart of the first commandment. “You shall have no other gods before Me” is the first declaration that God makes to the people of Israel when giving the commandments (Exodus 20:3). It only makes sense that this would be the first given the fact that the world is spiritually divided into two groups: believer and unbelievers.

But knowing that there is a God is just the first step. We need to know Him (experientially). God is relational and He has given us everything that we need in order to know who He is and to embrace His character and nature. Let’s take a look at God’s character from the testimony He gives of Himself.

“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth…”

                                                                                                                   Exodus 34:6b 

God passed in front of Moses and made this declaration of Himself. God is compassionate. He is gracious. God is slow to anger (patient). He is abounding in love, kindness, and truth. I believe that each of us would do well to spend some time with God today, just meditating on the character traits that have just been mentioned. It is vitally important that we understand each of these traits. Because God is relational, we can not only read and meditate on the nature of God rather we can experience Him in our lives. But God has more to tell us: 

“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.” 

                                                                                                                 Exodus 18:23, 32 

Again, while dealing with the people of Israel, God makes two declarations. One contains the truth that God does not get any pleasure in the death of the wicked rather He would prefer that they turn from their evil ways and live (experience spiritual life). The second is similar but this time God declares that He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies. Again, He prefers that they repent (change their mind about Him) and live (experience spiritual life). Compound those statements with the very characteristics of God and we have a good reason to rest in His goodness. But if we need more on God’s personality, consider Jesus’ words: 

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

                                                                                                               Matthew 11:28-30 

As God came to earth and walked around in human flesh, we see the same message. Jesus says that we can come to Him and that He will give us rest. This rest is rooted in the truth that Jesus is gentle and humble in heart. The demands that Jesus places on His followers are easy (pleasurable and kind) and His burden is light (when compared to the demands of this world). As we take time to truly know God and spend time with Him, we begin to experience the presence of God in our lives, validating everything that we read about Him in scripture.

God is triune, existing as Father, Son, and Spirit, yet He is One. Because of this, we can expect to see the same characteristics flowing from God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In other words, all three Persons exhibit the same qualities. Consider Paul’s words regarding the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

                                                                                                       Galatians 5:22-23 

The evidence that someone has the presence of God in his/her life is that they will exhibit the same qualities as God. When the Spirit of God lives in us, we can expect to produce fruit. And topping the list of these spiritual traits is love, joy, and peace. This is a description of a fulfilling, abundant life and one that most desire to possess.

In addition to these traits is spiritual freedom. Again, consider Paul’s words regarding the Spirit:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (freedom). 

                                                                                                            2 Corinthians 3:17 

The very presence of God in our lives should bring us spiritual freedom. This freedom allows us to live in the knowledge of our own salvation and gives us power to go and share this amazing news with those around us (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

To acknowledge God, to know Him, to spend time with Him, and to enjoy Him forever; this is the essence of the first commandment!