A new CNN study proclaims, “America Becoming Less Christian.” (3/9/09) Apparently, the number of people (over 50,000 were surveyed) claiming Christianity has dropped from 86% in 1990 to 75% in 2009. I am not sure how much stock to put in surveys these days, and all kinds of issues about this particular one could be debated, but that’s not my main concern here.

The real concern is that more and more people are choosing to live their lives as if there were no God. How sad! What that means is they have no true and unchanging source of Authority to live by. There is no Creator who exercises loving control over their existence. They have no daily Source of guidance beyond the prevailing but fickle winds of current culture. They have no Redeemer to rescue them from their sin nature. They cannot turn to a Provider to meet their needs for daily sustenance, comfort for sorrow, protection from the devourer, and significance for an otherwise brief and meaningless existence. And maybe most dreadful of all, they have no sense of security for what happens after this life is through.

No wonder David puts them in the category of “fool”. No wonder they are “overwhelmed with dread” when they expected great freedom from being unchained from the “demands” of a Creator.

My point is not to rail against those who have rejected God. The insecurity of their lives is condemnation enough. The real take-away from this psalm for me is simply to acknowledge how amazing it is to live as if there is a God; to know Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior; to have the security and joy of a Creator who watches over every second and every detail of my life.

You see, I have a moment-by-moment Source of guidance for my life. I have a Redeemer who rescues me from my sin nature, and even trumps my every sin with the grace of forgiveness. I have a Provider who meets my every need according to his unlimited riches. I have a Comforter in times of sorrow, a Protector in times of danger, and a Creator who has created me as his workmanship to do good works which he prepared for me to do long before I was even born.

And best of all, I have the assurance of life after this one is over—and I don’t live with insecurity, fear or dread about what will happen tomorrow. I am truly blessed!

Yes, the truly blessed has said in his heart, “There is a God!”

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“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling ‘darkness’ on the wall of his cell.” (C.S. Lewis)

Making Life Work: Take a close look at all the domains of your life: the physical, emotional, intellectual, professional, relational and spiritual. Is there any area, or even a part of an area, where you are living as a practical atheist—where you are living as if there is no God?  If you are, I think you know what to do!