Pray For the Atheists

# 359 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 26:1,2, “Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?" 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. (1 Sam 26:1,2) These Ziphites continue to be a thorn in the side of David. They continually seek to rile up the government (Saul) in order to remove David from their midst. They remind me of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Annie Gaylor, Richard Dawkins, and other famous atheists who made it their mission to remove Christianity from the public square. Sometimes we Christians get all riled up against these people who seem to be so hell-bent on attacking our faith, but we should be much more concerned about their souls. The Bible has some strong words to say about atheists. Ps 14:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." Ps 14:1“ and in Pr 28:26, we read, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” In the end, the believer (one who walks wisely) is delivered while the atheist faces an eternity of torment. Unbelief is the sin, that bars one from heaven. Heb 3:12-19 says, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." 16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Chilling words. Barred from heaven and eternal bliss, due to the hardened heart of unbelief. Father, in Your mercy we implore You to keep pursuing the lost.