The Illiteracy of The Literate

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
Mark 1	Mark 2	Mark 3	Genesis 45	Genesis 46	Psalms 19

God's existence is proclaimed outwardly to mankind in two primary forms: one without words and the other with words. With either form, there are those who are illiterate.

Psalms 19 begins with the declaration, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands." There are no people on planet earth who have not "heard" this declaration of God's glory, even though, as the psalmist says, "There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard." But their message is clear for all to recognize proclaiming, "There is a Creator God whose powers are endless." The apostle Paul stated in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans that, "what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them." How has God revealed Himself to mankind? "From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made." Those, Paul says, who say or act as if there is no God do so "without excuse." Their atheistic position is held in opposition to what has been clearly revealed.

This is a form of illiteracy - an inability to read what has been revealed through creation. The saddest part about this form of illiteracy is that it is for the most part willful. Many who have this form of illiteracy are quite literate in regard to the written word. But claiming to be wise, they foolishly cast a blind eye upon God's handiwork and attribute it to one form of chance or another. Whatever the form to which God's creation is attributed, greater faith is required to accept it than to simply accept that there is a God and He is behind it all. Failing at an explanation for God's origin that is understandable to them, they fabricate an explanation for creation they can understand, ignoring the obvious.

Psalms 19 goes on to mention the second primary form of outward proclamation about God which is the written word. Between these two forms, no one should be ignorant of God.