It's not what we know, but what we believe that matters

The fool has said in his heart “There is no God” Psalm 14:1a

I have often wondered why people say that there is no God. I have always acknowledged His existence. For me, it has always been natural to talk to Him. I thought everyone did the same. When I found out we all don’t I was puzzled and didn’t understand why.
As I grew older I sinned more and more. Some of the sins I liked doing. Some seemed like there was no way to escape them. Others I just felt like doing. I grew to hate myself because of my sins. This in turn affected my life with others. I have never had too many people I would call friend.
During this time in my life I encountered people that told me about Jesus and His sacrifice for my sins. So I knew what the Gospel was, but I didn’t believe them. I couldn’t see how God could forgive me for the things I had done. It also didn’t seem real to me.
It became real to me when I sat down with the pastor who married me and my wife. He explained to me what Jesus had done. I remember thinking “Wow! This is for real. He really did this for me.”
But even then I only followed God for a short time. Some would call it backsliding. I say I wasn’t actually saved. This is because I believe I was the grain sown on rocky ground.

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth : And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Matthew 13:5-6

Yep, that was me. God’s word had not taken root in me and my life. I continued my life and grew to hate my sins and my self more and more. I thought I couldn’t escape my sins. I thought I was forever trapped in them.
Then September 11, 2001 happened. I heard some people talking at work about how it was foretold in Revelation that it would happen. So I started to read Revelation from beginning to end. I then read the entire Bible from beginning to end. Somewhere during that time, three to four weeks after 9 -11 and part way in to Genesis, I became an actual believer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus has helped me to no longer be trapped in my sins. I have escaped what I thought was inescapable. My marriage is better. My relationship with my kids is better. My relationship with God is better.
I still battle sin, but I now know I can go to Jesus and ask Him to help me turn away from it, repent.
I still don’t fully understand why people don’t acknowledge His existence. I have a suspicion though that it is because we don’t like being told what we can and can’t do. Others of us, I believe, like their sinful ways and don’t want to leave them. Still others probably feel, like I did, trapped and don’t know there is a way to escape their sins. It’s too bad we all won’t come to Him and believe Him, having His help to get through life's problems makes things so much better.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it to them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse; Romans 1:18-20

That is why the opening verse says people are fools for denying there is a God . He has manifest the things about Him in each of us. We all know He exists. All He asks of us is to believe Him and turn away from our sins.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

God loves us, but sinful humans cannot enter heaven. Because God wants us to be with Him He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins. Our God, Jesus Christ, suffered for our sins in our place. He then died, in our place, for our sins, was buried, and rose the third day. That is the Gospel, 2 Corinthians 15:1-4.

If we believe, by faith, the gospel we will inherit eternal life and be with Him forever. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2 Corinthians 5:7

To believe God we need to believe by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It isn’t something we can see or feel, but it is life changing.
I have grown in my faith with the Lord since I became one of His elect, saints. I love Him and want others to believe Him like I do. Leaving a life of sin is a difficult thing to do, but with God’s help I have been able to do it and I know everyone else can too.