I like to think that an atheist is just an unschooled person, who has yet to meet the Christ. However, some are just plain over the edge into sin and unbelief. Take Bar-Jesus for example. (Wow, his name gives us quite a hint!)
When they had passed through the entire island of Cyprus as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain Jewish wizard or sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus.
He was closely associated with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent and sensible man of sound understanding. He summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God.
But Elymas the wise man—for that is the translation of his name which he had given himself, opposed them, seeking to keep the proconsul from accepting the faith.
But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, looked steadily at him and said, “You master in every form of deception and recklessness, unscrupulousness, and wickedness, you son of the devil, you enemy of everything that is upright and good, will you never stop perverting and making crooked the straight paths of the Lord and plotting against His saving purposes?
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind. You will be so blind that you will be unable to see the sun for a time. Instantly there fell upon him a mist and a darkness, and he groped about seeking persons who would lead him by the hand.
Then the proconsul became a Christian when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished and deeply touched at the teaching concerning the Lord and from Him. (Acts 13:6-12)
Note that Bar-Jesus only lost his sight for a time. Hopefully, he repented after that episode!
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