Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

One of the things I know about unbelievers is this: an atheist says he knows there's no God, while an agnostic isn't quite so sure.

There are two other things which I've learned about agnostics and atheists:

1. None of them are saved.

2. There are more of them today than there used to be.

That last statement is not based on any personal observation but comes from the Barna Group's 2015 study on the state of atheism in America. After consulting with more than 20,000 unchurched people, Barna found that 25 percent considered themselves to be agnostic or atheist.

Barna also found out some other interesting things. For example, they discovered young people were more frequent doubters than the elderly; Barna found out folks with college degrees were more likely to be skeptics of the faith, and one-third of the intellectual unbelievers had never attended a Christian church service.

Perhaps the most pertinent discovery Barna learned from our unsaved brothers and sisters was the two greatest reasons given as to why they don't believe. Those reasons are

1. rejection of the Bible, which they consider to be a regular book filled with interesting stories,

and

2. lack of confidence in the church as an institution.

Take those two reasons, put them on the stove, boil them down, and you will find the heart and soul of the unbelievers' problem is they don't trust.

That's not too surprising, is it? People don't trust the president, Congress, or the Supreme Court. Many folks no longer trust the police, and they never trusted advertisers.

But it's sad when they don't trust the Lord or His Holy Word. It's even more sad that they usually do so without having given either a chance. They meet a grumpy Christian and they write off Christ; they hear about a pastor or priest who sinned and they write off the church. They hear some scholar take a shot at the truth of God's Word and they disregard Holy Scripture.

Far better they trust the Lord over their own wisdom and understanding.

In these two they will find the exception to life's falsehoods. In these two they will be given God's truth, which cannot be changed. In these two they will find how God has loved them and made it possible that -- with faith in His crucified and risen Son -- their sins will be forgiven and they will always have something and Someone to hold on to.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel. Now I ask that the doubters of the world may be given a foundation built on faith and trust in You and the Savior. In His Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Judges 4-6    Luke 13:1-22

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