By: Pastor Rick Smith

I started thinking for myself”, a young man said, giving that as the reason that he gave for his atheism.  In a sense, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with thinking for one’s self.  Most tend to be followers and do and think what the crowd thinks.  It is hard to go against the accepted opinions of those around us.  Sadly, many of those who begin thinking for themselves have been fooled into what they believe by others.  This is what happened to Adam and Eve.  It is also what has happened to many of us.

Satan caused doubt, challenging what God said.  In Genesis 3:1, the serpent began with, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” The doubt planted led to Eve seeking to satisfy her desires, both physical and emotional, by disobeying God’s direct command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  And, not satisfied to do this alone, she led her husband to join her in disobedience.  It is interesting to note that both Adam and Eve past the buck for their actions eventually to the serpent.  So much for thinking for yourself.  All of us have been in this situation.  We listened to someone that seemed to be speaking the truth, but later we find it to be a lie.  We are all guilty.  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way… (Isaiah 53:6a).”  We think that we can live independently from God, but we simply exchange the truth of God for a lie.

Now, back to this young man.  Though this young man is far from God, so are we without Christ.  Apart from the grace of God we are all like this young man who is thinking for himself.  He is lost, wandering in a world of his own making, according to his own reason.  But there is hope even for him.  He may now be going his own way now, but I know too many former atheists who believe that he doesn’t have to stay that way.  God invites us all, along with this young “thinker for himself”, to come “…let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool (Isaiah 1:18).”You may be a self-thinker, a sinner, an atheist, but God sent Jesus to rescue and save you.  “…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).”  You may be a sheep gone astray, but God through Christ He can save you.  How?  Because  “…the LORD has laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6a).”

May God reveal this truth to you.  I pray that He will. If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday.   Worship at 10:50 A.M.  We are located at 711 West Washington Ave.  Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541.  Send comments and prayer requests to:prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

Rick Smith is the Pastor at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Artesia.