“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15).
There are two types of atheism in this world—philosophical and practical.
Philosophical atheism is less common. It generally arises among people who seek to cloak a life of wickedness by using a shield of intelligence and an aura of intellectual superiority. Philosophical atheism appeals to human pride and allows its adherents to live as they please without the fear of divine wrath for their selfishness and wickedness. It is a path of utter folly (Psalm 14:1).
Practical atheists may claim a firm belief in God. Their atheism, however, is seen in how they live on a day-to-day basis, not in what they do or do not profess to believe. They simply live as if there is no God.
Like the foolish farmer in Luke 12:16-21, a practical atheist goes about his daily life without the proper concern and focus upon laying up treasures in heaven. Like the businessmen referenced in James’ words above, a practical atheist presumes his future is filled with an endless number of tomorrows. His plans, therefore, never rise above the things of this world, never acknowledge the brevity and uncertainty of life, and never are made with an undying concern for God and His will.
In truth, his “plans” are really nothing more than arrogant boasts, and such boasting is evil.
